Would an ornate or three toed box turtle be able to survive outside year round in Pennsylvania, provided good soil drainage and some sort of cover from snow? I noticed when I googled their home ranges that ornates go the whole way up to South Dakota and I know they can get some pretty brutal winters.
The reason I ask is I like box turtles. Always have. I used to keep one when I was a kid during the summers for a little while and would let it go. Eastern Box turtles are native to my area but are illegal to keep. The subspecies are ok. I personally think none of them do well indoors long term, and I don't have the room inside. But I do have a big yard that's on a hill. It's wet with a creek on the bottom, relatively dry towards the top. I don't have anything set in mind, just curious and wondering about any possibilities.
The reason I ask is I like box turtles. Always have. I used to keep one when I was a kid during the summers for a little while and would let it go. Eastern Box turtles are native to my area but are illegal to keep. The subspecies are ok. I personally think none of them do well indoors long term, and I don't have the room inside. But I do have a big yard that's on a hill. It's wet with a creek on the bottom, relatively dry towards the top. I don't have anything set in mind, just curious and wondering about any possibilities.