What type of tortoise is this?

[Syrtros]

I've only ever owned two baby sulcata tortoises, so I found this tortoise in the road about to get ran over and grabbed him, can you help me identify his species and tell me if it's safe to let him out into the Alabama woods.

 

[wellington]

That's a box turtle. If it is native where you live and you found it in the wild leave it alone or take it back where it came from.
I believe it's an Eastern Box, but I'm not good at IDing the different ones.

 

[Syrtros]

That's a box turtle. If it is native where you live and you found it in the wild leave it alone or take it back where it came from.
I believe it's an Eastern Box, but I'm not good at IDing the different ones.

I thought it was an eastern box turtle but its face and legs when I found it didnt look much like an eastern box turtle, but I'm releasing it a short ways down from where it was, I just wanted to make sure it would be okay in the wild.

 

[Toddrickfl1]

It's an Eastern box turtle. Release it close to where you found it.

 

[Syrtros]

It's an Eastern box turtle. Release it close to where you found it.

I did, it was barely down the road from my home. Thanks for the help!

 

[dmmj]

Definetly release near where you found it. They are very territorial. Will literally kill itself trying to get back to its territory.

 

[Syrtros]

That's a box turtle. If it is native where you live and you found it in the wild leave it alone or take it back where it came from.
I believe it's an Eastern Box, but I'm not good at IDing the different ones.

Also sorry, I forgot to tell you thank you for the help.

 

[Syrtros]

Definetly release near where you found it. They are very territorial. Will literally kill itself trying to get back to its territory.

That's a bit extreme, wow. If it's not there already, it shouldn't have far to walk. Thanks for the help

 

[Pastel Tortie]

I thought it was an eastern box turtle but its face and legs when I found it didnt look much like an eastern box turtle, but I'm releasing it a short ways down from where it was, I just wanted to make sure it would be okay in the wild.

Depending how far south you are (how close to the Gulf of Mexico you are), the turtle might show signs of being a Gulf Coast box turtle (T.c. major). The shell is consistent with those I've seen from the Florida Panhandle. That might explain the difference in head and leg markings.

 

[Syrtros]

Depending how far south you are (how close to the Gulf of Mexico you are), the turtle might show signs of being a Gulf Coast box turtle (T.c. major). The shell is consistent with those I've seen from the Florida Panhandle. That might explain the difference in head and leg markings.

Ah okay, thank you.

 

[Cathie G]

It's an Eastern box turtle. Release it close to where you found it.

I don't know how true this is but someone is posting on Facebook every once in awhile that box turtles only travel a mile from their home territory and will travel their whole life trying to get home. If released after captivity. Is their territory really only one mile? I accidentally tapped the reply but saw you and decided to reply anyway because you've always tried to give me some good advice. Thanks.

 

[Toddrickfl1]

I don't know how true this is but someone is posting on Facebook every once in awhile that box turtles only travel a mile from their home territory and will travel their whole life trying to get home. If released after captivity. Is their territory really only one mile? I accidentally tapped the reply but saw you and decided to reply anyway because you've always tried to give me some good advice. Thanks.

Yes that is what is generally thought that they have a really small territory. That's one reason for their dwindling numbers. People see them crossing the road, pick them up and bring them somewhere else and release them.

 

[Syrtros]

Yes that is what is generally thought that they have a really small territory. That's one reason for their dwindling numbers. People see them crossing the road, pick them up and bring them somewhere else and release them.

I made sure to release him close to home, I wouldn't have taken him with me if I was too far out to take him back or near. Thank you for the information!

 

[wellington]

I don't know how true this is but someone is posting on Facebook every once in awhile that box turtles only travel a mile from their home territory and will travel their whole life trying to get home. If released after captivity. Is their territory really only one mile? I accidentally tapped the reply but saw you and decided to reply anyway because you've always tried to give me some good advice. Thanks.

Yes that is said to be true.
However they should not be released after captivity of too much time.

 

[Cathie G]

I made sure to release him close to home, I wouldn't have taken him with me if I was too far out to take him back or near. Thank you for the information!

I had a similar issue last year with a Midwest Paint. My neighbor brought her to my front door because he thought my tortoise had somehow gotten loose. (Nottt!!!) My neighbor had found her trying to cross our really busy street and neighborhood cats were messing with her. I put her in my backyard enclosure for 24 hours and released her just a few feet from where she was picked up (from advice of our state fish and wildlife). What was really cute when I released her was that she came and scratched at my front door. Then she spent time in a flower bed next to the front door (I was able to watch from my living room window) and then probably went home. I really think that the right thing happened for that turtle because of all the rain that we've been having the past couple of years. She may have traveled further from the river near us, because of flooding issues, to lay eggs. It's always right to help them cross a road but then how do they get back home? Anyway, I think you helped a little turtle.

 

[Christyk]

That shell is beautiful. Did you ever get a picture of the face?

 

[domalle]

Depending how far south you are (how close to the Gulf of Mexico you are), the turtle might show signs of being a Gulf Coast box turtle (T.c. major). The shell is consistent with those I've seen from the Florida Panhandle. That might explain the difference in head and leg markings.

It also has the flared carapace characteristic of Terrapene carolina major which is the largest and most aquatic of the carolina group. I think you're right @Pastel Tortie.

 

[Billna the 2]

Not a tortoises it's a box turtle