It's a male

Feature: Mr. Box Turtle

While working in the garden this afternoon I happened upon this fellow. Always happy to have an excuse to stop tilling the garden, I sat quietly and made some pictures.

The eastern box turtle, Terrapene carolina carolina, is among the most common of turtles in the eastern U.S., and sadly many fall victim to automobiles as the turtles, less than eight inches long, cross woodland roads and highways…  (read more)

15 Jun 2013

143 visits

It's a male

You can tell that, interestingly, by eye color and shell shape.

15 Jun 2013

163 visits

Why it's called a "box turtle"

I rinsed the poor fellow off, both to bring out the color and to get him to close up. Once, when I was a kid, I got a finger caught when a box turtle closed its shell. Hurt like crazy. I pried it open with a quarter. Neither it not I was permanently harmed.

15 Jun 2013

141 visits

Taking a peek

This turtle was more cautious than most. It was nearly 15 minutes before he peeked out this much. Those long claws are for digging -- they eat grubs and snails and such, and dig into the ground for their winter's hibernation. (They also eay deadly toadstool mushrooms. They are immune to the toxin, which they store in their fat. That makes them unpalatable to many predators and is the reason they're one of the few American turtles not eaten by people.)

15 Jun 2013

160 visits

Considering the options

So many directions to go, when you are a box turtle.

15 Jun 2013

162 visits

Heading out

Box turtles can actually skedaddle when they get a mind to -- well, by land turtle standards, anyway.

15 Jun 2013

1 favorite

179 visits

Considering a fallen tomato

Box turtles are omnivorous. They like berries, all sorts of fruits, and as previously mentioned, small invertebrates.

15 Jun 2013

2 favorites

222 visits

Checking for the tomato's owner

Looking around to see if supper is safe.

15 Jun 2013

1 favorite

171 visits

Playing it safe

Our friend turns from the tomato and heads for the woods. The end.