The Box Turtle Connection

Check out this short feature on Piedmont Wildlife Center, The Box Turtle connection, and Turtle Trekkers. Good timing before Box Turtles start coming up from brumation.

How ‘Shellfies’ Can Help Save Box Turtles North Carolina’s state reptile, the box turtle, is in trouble because its habitat is disappearing. Learn how taking “shellfies” can help scientists learn mor...

Check out this NPR episode featuring our very own Box Turtle Connection members Ann Somers, Dr. John Roe, Trudie Henninger, Gabrielle Graeter, and Brian Bockhahn.

Short Wave New discoveries, everyday mysteries, and the science behind the headlines — all in about 10 minutes, every weekday. It's science for everyone, using a lot of creativity and a little humor. Join hosts Emily Kwong and Aaron Scott for science on a different wavelength.If you're hooked, try Short Wave...

Look at this handsome gentleman!

That makes two!

The second turtle crossing assist made by TSA's Jordan Gray this morning was for this exquisite young adult male Eastern Box Turtle (Terrapene carolina).

Learn more about "Why Did the Turtle Cross the Road? And What You Can Do!" HERE: https://turtlesurvival.org/why-did-the-turtle-cross-the-road-and-what-you-can-do/

Photo: Jordan Gray

Partners in Amphibian and Reptile Conservation

Calling all Turtle fans! Be sure and put these on your wish lists!

Rumor has it that Plush Tortoises are gonna be back in stock, but did you see this T-shirt?!

This is a great looking shirt for that turtle obsessed loved one you have, or for yourself. Yep, it’s ok to get it for yourself. Feed that obsession, save those turtles!

https://turtlesurvival.org/shop/

Photo: Garden State Tortoise

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Here are a few more beautiful fall-colored cuties for your autumn aesthetic, Eastern Box Turtles (T. carolina carolina)! Check out those intense eyes— Box Turtles have great eyesight, complete with color AND night vision! These omnivores scavenge most of their spoils, eating anything they can find from seeds and mushrooms to road kill! One of their favorite foods are earthworms, and they’ll dig around for hours through the leaves and dirt of the forest floor, focusing their eyes until they see a squiggle! 🪱🍽

Look at this handsome specimen from our friends in TN!

Wow! 😍 We just had to share this beautiful face with you! Red eyes are common in Eastern box turtles— about ninety percent of male box turtles have them— but we rarely see turtles with eyes this startlingly beautiful. Horace here suffered some minor injuries when a lady was moving him across the street (a wonderful thing to do!) and accidentally dropped him. His finder mistook his shell’s natural hinge, which helps a box turtle open and close its shell, for a more serious injury, but the box turtle’s box-like shell is perfectly normal. Since he is in generally good condition and his injuries are very minor, he’s going to be released back to his home quickly after some first aid and nutritional support, and after the remnants of Hurricane Ida have finished passing through the area.

Thank you to everyone who saves animals’ lives by helping them cross the road!

Sara Steffen, our assistant chair, gave a presentation on Box Turtles for City of Raleigh's Raleigh Parks, Recreation and Cultural Resources Department. Check out the virtual presentation and test your box turtle spotting skills and see how many new things you can learn about eastern box turtles!

Environmental Lecture Series: July 13, 2021The Box Turtle Connection, Building a Legacy Join us virtually for an exciting environmental lecture series every 2nd Monday of the month. With a new topic each month, there is something for everyone. ...

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Turtle Saving Tuesday!

It’s that time! Here in the Northern Hemisphere, the days are getting longer, the temperature’s getting warmer, and turtles are on the move. Sadly, though, their travels can be full of peril. From lawnmowers to iron rails, and concrete curbs to roadways, a litany of obstacles—some deadly—lie in their way. Roads, in particular, have become a common aspect of the landscape as our human reach ever expands. So what makes turtles step onto asphalt, a seemingly foreign substance, and continue onward?

LEARN MORE HERE: https://turtlesurvival.org/why-did-the-turtle-cross-the-road-and-what-you-can-do/

Pictured: Eastern Box Turtle (Terrapene carolina) assisted across a 4-lane bypass
Photo: Jordan Gray

Check out this cutie visiting the botanical gardens!

Somebody must've heard registrations are filling up for our annual Carolina Moonlight Virtual Party and didn't want to miss out on the action! 🐢🎉

Join us on Saturday, May 22 at 7 p.m. for a fun and educational evening focused on southeastern native carnivorous plants, featuring experts from the Garden and beyond. The party is open to all; we welcome donations to support the Garden. Register today at https://ncbg.unc.edu/event/carolina-moonlight-virtual-party/.

📷: NCBG staffer David Michaud spotted this box turtle meandering through our Courtyard Gardens the other day. Have you seen any new critters out and about lately?

Great resources from PBS!

Turtle Season Means More Turtle Rescues | PBS North Carolina Turtles are coming out of hibernation, which means the Turtle Rescue Team at NC State is getting busy. Read more from PBS North Carolina's Sci NC team.