What is this?

[IowaGuy28]

Just caught it, bout the size of a silver dollar

 

[Neal]

Looks like a 3-toed or an eastern box turtle. You able to put him back?

 

[Yvonne G]

Its a baby box turtle. If box turtles are native to your neck of the woods, you should put it back where you found it.

 

[IowaGuy28]

Well sadly I'm not the one who caught him/her. My sister did knowing I'm a turtle lover, so replacement is harder done. Ideas??

 

[NudistApple]

Ask her where she got it from, and then put it back.

 

[ALDABRAMAN]

Ask her where she got it from, and then put it back.

 

[wellington]

Yes, it should be put back. Then let your sister know to never take them from the wild unless they are injured. Leave the wild in the wild.

 

[IowaGuy28]

Sister caught it, replacement is harder done. Ideas??

 

[coreyc]

Ask your sister where she got it and put it back in the same spot

 

[IowaGuy28]

Ok so stupid question #2. Why should wild remain wild (unless injured)?

 

[Weda737]

Yeah... just put it back.

 

[KimandKarasi]

Ok so stupid question #2. Why should wild remain wild (unless injured)?

It's a legality issue I believe, they're officially on the black list and if you are seen with a wild caught boxie it can be a very hefty fine.... It's cute, yes, but they're endangered in the wild due to the exact thing your sister did (a bigger scale if course, but you get the point ).

 

[NudistApple]

Ok so stupid question #2. Why should wild remain wild (unless injured)?

Because the number of box turtles in the wild is decreasing dramatically - largely due to people taking them as captive pets.

They will also fair much better and be healthier if left in the wild.

The only reason who would keep it (temporarily) if it was injured is if it was an injury dramatic enough to require intervention to save the animals life. It is very wrong to keep an animal from the wild as a pet, and everyone will recommend putting it back.

It is also specifically illegal in many states to take wild box turtles, and you could get a very hefty fine for it, depending on where you live. He belongs back where your sister found him, there are plenty of other ways to get them as pets.

 

[acrantophis]

Box turtles make excellent pets. But they are so rare in the wild that it is a tragedy to take one from the wild. It is easy to buy a perfectly healthy boxie from a knowledgable breeder. That way you get a parasite free animal that is acclimated to a captive life. Also babies are so difficult to raise its probably better to start with a sub-adult ;-)

 

[Irwin4530]

SO does anyone out there have any boxies?

 

[RonHays]

I do know that here in Mississippi they'll fine you big time. Our game wardens watch this kind of stuff.