Eastern Box Turtle Behavior

[BDinPutnam]

Kinda a long shot and way off topic but does anyone know why this female has been hanging out on and around the house all weekend? She spent this morning coming up the front sidewalk and made her way onto the patio by 1000, where she pretty much hung out all day until I picked her up and put her into the grass. And now she's trolling up and down the small paved strip on the side of the house.

I thought she got trapped and confused on the patio but was next to the cutouts back to the grass a number of times. Doesn't seem to be hurt and the little I know she isn't that old.

I know the general rule is don't pick em up and they tend to live within a 200 meter radius, but if she keeps coming on the patio do I just pick her up with gloves and dump her back into the edge of the woods around the places I know she generally lives?

 

[thegatman]

Maybe breeding season or she wants to be your friend.

 

[BDinPutnam]

Maybe breeding season or she wants to be your friend.

I actually thought that except we saw (to our knowledge) her first lifetime hatchling last weekend, which is how I learnt a quick way to know male from female is eye color (he had bright red eyes and almost orange red coloring; she has orange/brown eyes and yellow coloring).

There was a point where I thought she wanted to come in the house but couldn't figure out the steps. Wouldn't be the first would-be non-dog family member that follows me around the yard.

 

[fnfalguy]

Maybe she is looking for a deaf white squirrel? You should point her in the direction of the other post by @Different Drummer

 

[GOYABEAN]

maybe she was warming her self with your patios bricks or wanted to scratch her bottom side

 

[togmaster]

She has the hots for you. Offering up some hot turtle love.

 

[Criticalt]

We often get turtles doing odd things around here.
They try getting in the house, garage and barn.
They follow the dogs around and try climbing on a dog if its sleeping.
Im not sure anyone knows why but turtles are weirdos.

 

[Glenn B]

Searching for a site to lay eggs maybe. She may also be attracted to your place because she was hatched out somewhere on your property. Box Turtles have an amazing sense of direction and if you remove them from their home range, by even hundreds of miles, they often try to return to their point of origin.

 

[Acer-m14]

on the other side of the spectrum she could be trying to tell you its time for some turtle soup ....

 

[Eddie Gunks]

We have one that shows up every year.

We had anotherr that showed for years on end and one day we never saw her again. She only had 3 legs so i knew it was the same one.....

Let it be. She will be fine.

 

[Day444]

I'd say it's trying to get warm on the sidewalk. Could be looking to lay eggs. Let it alone, and it will be fine.

 

[Mosinitis]

I saw the same thing yesterday on Long Island around Calverton. Turtle was strolling on the side of the road with head extended upwards.

 

[masterswimmer]

View attachment 29260

Nice camo job on that pith helmet

 

[whauburger]

Judging by the amount of snapping turtles splattered on 84 and frequently walking on the shoulder i'd say it is def the time of year.....Just googled a bit and box turtles usually breed between may-october and a female can store sperm for up to 4 years from a single breeding. They can lay more than 1 "clutch" per year also so possibly looking to dig a hole to drop some eggers.

 

[Saltwater60]

That’s awesome. I love box turtles and I’ve never seen one in real Life. Your a lucky man. Keep her safe.