thinking outside the box.

Eastern box turtle at Mariton

When Zane Miller was growing up, he got to know a particular eastern box turtle. Every spring for several years in a row, this turtle made her way to his mother’s flower garden to lay her eggs.

“She had a chunk out of her shell that made her quite distinct, so we knew it was the same turtle,” said Zane.

Perhaps this was where the Natural Lands preserve manager’s fascination with these reptiles began, though he’s quick to point out he’s not a turtle expert. “Really, I like all wild things,” Zane clarifies. “I love studying them to learn more about them.”

Zane has spotted quite a few box turtles as he goes about his workdays. The more he encountered, the more he began to wonder how robust their population was.

Eastern box turtles are a species of special concern in Pennsylvania. Their numbers have declined steadily throughout their range due to habitat loss and poaching by the illegal pet trade. A naturally low reproduction rate further compounds their challenges. Females may take up to a decade to begin laying eggs, which have a high natural failure rate. Both eggs and hatchlings are vulnerable to predators like skunks, racoons, and foxes. However, eastern box turtles are long lived and produce eggs well into “old age.” There are some reports of individuals living more than 100 years in the wild.

Recalling that turtle from his childhood, Zane knew he could identify distinct individuals by their shell and skin markings, which are as unique as human fingerprints. So, he set up a spreadsheet with GPS locations, photos of shell patterns, sex, and guesstimated age based on size. Zane carefully logs every box turtle he comes across during his work. And he shares his findings via the Pennsylvania Amphibian and Reptile Survey, a citizen-science effort to document the state’s herptiles.

Shell photos: Zane Miller

 

Turtles, like birds and butterflies, are an indicator species; their presence and abundance can tell us a lot about the overall health of the ecosystem.

“It’s important to study indicator species, particularly to understand how our land stewardship activities may impact them,” Zane explained. “Over time, my documentation can help me get a fuller picture of this species. For example, I have noted individuals that have traveled more than a quarter of a mile and several hundred feet of elevation change. That’s quite something considering their average walking pace is about two tenths of a mile per hour.”

Box turtles generally stick to a relatively small home range but do travel farther during spring mating and nesting season. Sadly, many turtles are crushed by cars when they attempt to cross roadways built across their habitats. Unlike mammals, turtles are ectothermic; they regulate their body temperatures from their surroundings. When it’s hot outside, they seek shade. When it’s cold, they find a sunny spot. Though they don’t live in water, box turtles prefer a humid environment. Zane has noticed they’re particularly active during and after a rainstorm.

“Natural Lands’ preserves are ideal turtle habitat,” Zane shared. “Few roads traverse these conserved acres and development isn’t a threat. We also leave leaves and fallen trees to decompose, which offer great shelter from the heat of summer and a place for turtles to keep warm in winter. Turtles often return to the same site each winter, when they enter a state called brumation, which is similar to hibernation. It’s yet another compelling reason for leaving dead trees to decompose. I’ve seen quite a few box turtles emerging from under dead trees where they overwintered.”

In late summer, after a few days of rain, a turtle appeared by Zane’s office door and stayed there. At first, he was delighted, but Zane became worried after the third day and when he noticed one of the turtle’s eyes was closed.

He transported the animal to Aark Wildlife Rehabilitation and Education Center in Chalfont, PA. The clinic staff there diagnosed the turtle with conjunctivitis, which was hampering the animal’s ability to forage. They admitted the turtle to administer antibiotics and help it put on some much-needed weight. Once it’s healthy again, they’ll release it exactly where Zane found it: at his office door.

The loss of even just one turtle to a species faced with so many challenges is significant. Fortunately for this lucky reptile, and the many others that call the preserve home, Zane Miller is keeping a watchful eye out. “It doesn’t have to just be me,” said Zane. “If we all create safe habitat in natural areas in our yards and gardens and support conservation efforts around the region, together, we can be part of the solution.”

what to do if you find a box turtle…

• on the road
  Pull over safely and put on your flashers. Pick the turtle up, holding it securely with both hands. Move the turtle out of the road in the direction it was facing. Wash your hands, as turtles often carry salmonella, chlamydia, and fungal infections.
• on a nature walk
  Don’t disturb or handle the turtle. Take a photo if you wish (and send it to photos@natlands.org if you’re at one of our preserves), but don’t post the location on social media. Take home some happy memories but NEVER take home a turtle.
• in your yard or garden
  Make your property more inviting to turtles by leaving downed trees and leaves whenever possible. If you observe a turtle digging a nest (May through July), keep pets and curious children away from that area. Eggs incubate for up to 80 days.

turtles and climate change.

Because eastern box turtles rely on their external environment to regulate body temperature, they are especially vulnerable to changes in climate. Some scientists predict they’ll experience increases in nest failures, skewed sex ratios, and disease outbreaks. Others think the species may benefit from a warming climate with higher winter survival rates and longer seasons to reproduce, particularly in the northern parts of their range.

note: It is a federal crime to take a turtle from the wild, punishable by fines of up to $5,000 and six months in prison. It is also illegal to own an eastern box turtle in Pennsylvania and the species is notoriously difficult to care for in captivity. Sadly, that doesn’t stop those in the illegal pet trade from poaching them or incidental turtle-napping by curious hikers. One recent report estimates that “hundreds and sometimes thousands of eastern box turtles are traded each year.”