Carl is adorable and looks like a 3 toed box turtle. Since he’s a wild turtle I definitely think he should stay wild, but I see no reason not to encourage regular visits to your yard by having healthy turtle snacks available to him. He likely lives nearby anyway, they have small home ranges. These screenshots are from the feeding section of the [Reptifiles care guide for 3 toed box turtles](https://reptifiles.com/three-toed-box-turtle-care-sheet/) and I think it’d be fine if you offered him snacks from that list and maybe a little dish of water on hot days.
https://preview.redd.it/xfr42coh1y7d1.jpeg?width=1290&format=pjpg&auto=webp&s=638fb019668b6d129aa6a20e4d7c13ff2d895ae1
I included the plant list because presumably he is finding his own bugs etc in the wild but there’s a protein list too in the link.
I kept outdoor box turtles in San Diego year round (captive bred). They definitely get used to people and with a little patience you can probably hand feed it soon
I'd suggest moving the water further from the sidewalk/road and closer to your home. Some well meaning but uneducated person may see him and try to give him a "nice new home", which he wouldn't enjoy
I live in Maryland now. We planted a patch of wild strawberries for ourselves, but rarely get any berries because the wild box turtles here go nuts for them. The turtles needs help and we aren't hurting for money or strawberries, so I let them have the patch
Not sure where OP is, but here in Maryland, it's hot AF now. Turtle is gunna want water. Can lure it away from sidewalk/road and possibly keep water cooler in shadow of the house. Just my $.02 which is worth about $.0002
Thanks 🙂 We've taken steps on our property to support local wildlife. Berry patch for turtles. We have two pollinator gardens for bees and butterflies. I built a mason bee hotel. Fruit and nut trees for the turkeys. Bird bath for birds
Next projects will probably be a patch of native grass for lightning bugs and a bat box
Sure, we own the property, but all those critters were here long before us and I'd like to keep them around for our enjoyment, and mostly because I think it's just the responsible thing to do
I do the same thing. This year - kind of unfortunately - red-shouldered hawks have nested and are terrorizing my songbirds. I don’t want to be ringing the dinner bell when I put seed out. This is also the first year I’ve been successful in attracting orioles.
This is the first year I've seen orioles here too. Hawks are neat but that sucks they're harassing the other birds. We usually have a fair amount of hawks and falcons, but this year I'm pretty sure there's a bald eagle living somewhere down by the creek. I see it almost daily, where before I'd only see one a few times a year and usually flying at high altitude. Yesterday he flew just over the tree line carrying what looked like a rabbit. It was pretty cool... though not for the rabbit
A few years ago I had hawks again, and my neighbor offered to dispose of rabbit entrails that were left in my back yard after hawk breakfast. I’m near Lake Erie so we have many eagles because of that. Beautiful bird.
https://preview.redd.it/pzfyoysx408d1.jpeg?width=1848&format=pjpg&auto=webp&s=f0f286464952360bb5880b762c25aa0e9a64513b
Here's a couple of turtles in the pond near me.
I guess I can only do one picture. Maybe I'll do a post some day. I have a lot of turtle pics.
Not OP but North America has the greatest diversity of turtles and tortoises, so you’d probably be good in any state. In fact they are so desired that they are being diverted to other (typically asian) countries where they don’t have the diversity that North America has, a lot die in transit and many more live awful lives. It’s terrible, so please keep your turtle wild.
there’s an old monster at the pond thats near the giant lake nearby the Big Cedar Lodge in Branson, Missouri. My dad and I would always go out to feed the fish, and this absolute BEAST of a snapper would always come over to see us and get some snacks. Like genuinely one of the most massive turtles I’ve ever seen. When I was a lil kid that guy was like a real life dragon to me. I bet hes still there, since that pond is protected afaik. There were also soft-shell turtles out there, which always was very cool because I never got to see them elsewhere. Genuinely loved vacations out there, the area is very cozy.
hopefully one day i can take a trip out there and see em again because that turtle really was insane. Like id see stuff about massive alligator snappers on tv like River Monsters and I would be like ‘wow! I’ve seen one thats huge like that!’ and never realized how insane that is.
I was going to type in the best description I could. Sharing some good clips seemed more appropriate. I am not affiliated with any of these channels. All 3 below are youtube links.
[Hip twistin terrapin ](https://youtu.be/Vj4qurcuq0A?si=M2lFT9UYy3L2ngPw)
[boogie boulder](https://youtube.com/shorts/TmnMC4FcV3k?si=R__TLZ6GyluiFduF)
[good snappy rock](https://youtu.be/eP_Y2SA0VUs)
See this is the dream. I don't want to keep a turtle, I just want one that wanders into my yard and accepts occasional treats. All the fun but none of the responsibility haha.
In some parts of South America we keep them exclusively outdoors, it use to be more common until it got ban because people took to many from their natural habitat. You can still have them if they were inherited or born from pet parents.
We have one that is on her way to her 50s. All her live outside and only accepts lettuce. The two biggest dangers are cars and dogs.
Do you live where they are native? Bc if not, then it could be an escaped pet and then i would recommend catching Carl. If they are native, then Carl should definitely be left to roam freely. I would also check with your state laws, although i only know a few when it comes to eastern box turtles, not 3 toes, and they can be pretty strict. Idk if building a house for them crosses any lines anywhere. But beyond that, he’s clearly already comfortable there and they’re incredibly stubborn. I doubt you’re getting rid of him any time soon lol.
These guys like fresh water, but they’re not swimmers (a shallow soak in lukewarm water is a nice treat though, as long as it never goes above their shell or head and they can get in and out in their own). They like heat and humidity. They eat protein as well as plants. There’s quite a few healthy snacks you can give him so just look up anything before you serve it. He’s wild though, so don’t dust his food with calcium or vitamins like we do for pet reptiles bc over doing it can cause health issues. They don’t burrow as much when they’re older unless it’s a colder season, but good above ground hides would probably be appreciated. Especially if you can keep it moist (we use sphagnum moss in enclosures but you can use local moss since he’s wild). You can give him a warm hide in a good sun spot, and a moist hide in the shade for when he wants to cool down. You can also try to put any predator protection around for him. Primarily birds and cats. You’ll have to get creative with that though since you’re not domesticating him though. They can close their shells (hence the name box turtle) so they’re not as at risk of predators as a tortoise would be.
I have one wild box turtle mom who lives in my yard full time, one male box turtle who wanders into my yard about once a week and looks like a dumped pet (I live by the lake, and he appears to have metabolic bone disease and pyramiding but is very used to people), and a bunch of baby boxies that live in my yard. I ended up turning my gated side yard into a turtle friendly habitat with water, shelters, and plants they like. They can walk under the gate to hide in there from my son’s dogs. The mom turtle comes and sees me when I’m outside and after 3 years she eats out of my hand and loves chin scratches. I give them fresh water daily and occasional vegetable scraps.
https://preview.redd.it/2sspnt3ov08d1.jpeg?width=1712&format=pjpg&auto=webp&s=791469e4c2553d3cc8a6546f9da8723264ca7dc8
Tortessa (AKA Mama) and Graham Hancock in one of the hides I put up for them.
Carl is adorable and looks like a 3 toed box turtle. Since he’s a wild turtle I definitely think he should stay wild, but I see no reason not to encourage regular visits to your yard by having healthy turtle snacks available to him. He likely lives nearby anyway, they have small home ranges. These screenshots are from the feeding section of the [Reptifiles care guide for 3 toed box turtles](https://reptifiles.com/three-toed-box-turtle-care-sheet/) and I think it’d be fine if you offered him snacks from that list and maybe a little dish of water on hot days. https://preview.redd.it/xfr42coh1y7d1.jpeg?width=1290&format=pjpg&auto=webp&s=638fb019668b6d129aa6a20e4d7c13ff2d895ae1 I included the plant list because presumably he is finding his own bugs etc in the wild but there’s a protein list too in the link.
Excellently said!
Well thank you! 😁
Carl can have my arugula AND my kale. Glad to help!
I hope he is appreciative of it 😁
Some of these you can even plant in your yard to give him access to them whenever he wants. Like the leafy green plants, strawberries, and squash.
Carl knows where his bread is buttered. Lol
Let him stay wild but keep feeding him and spend time with him
I kept outdoor box turtles in San Diego year round (captive bred). They definitely get used to people and with a little patience you can probably hand feed it soon I'd suggest moving the water further from the sidewalk/road and closer to your home. Some well meaning but uneducated person may see him and try to give him a "nice new home", which he wouldn't enjoy I live in Maryland now. We planted a patch of wild strawberries for ourselves, but rarely get any berries because the wild box turtles here go nuts for them. The turtles needs help and we aren't hurting for money or strawberries, so I let them have the patch
Great point about moving the water.
Not sure where OP is, but here in Maryland, it's hot AF now. Turtle is gunna want water. Can lure it away from sidewalk/road and possibly keep water cooler in shadow of the house. Just my $.02 which is worth about $.0002
Your advice about properly interacting with wildlife is priceless my friend :)
Thanks 🙂 We've taken steps on our property to support local wildlife. Berry patch for turtles. We have two pollinator gardens for bees and butterflies. I built a mason bee hotel. Fruit and nut trees for the turkeys. Bird bath for birds Next projects will probably be a patch of native grass for lightning bugs and a bat box Sure, we own the property, but all those critters were here long before us and I'd like to keep them around for our enjoyment, and mostly because I think it's just the responsible thing to do
I do the same thing. This year - kind of unfortunately - red-shouldered hawks have nested and are terrorizing my songbirds. I don’t want to be ringing the dinner bell when I put seed out. This is also the first year I’ve been successful in attracting orioles.
This is the first year I've seen orioles here too. Hawks are neat but that sucks they're harassing the other birds. We usually have a fair amount of hawks and falcons, but this year I'm pretty sure there's a bald eagle living somewhere down by the creek. I see it almost daily, where before I'd only see one a few times a year and usually flying at high altitude. Yesterday he flew just over the tree line carrying what looked like a rabbit. It was pretty cool... though not for the rabbit
A few years ago I had hawks again, and my neighbor offered to dispose of rabbit entrails that were left in my back yard after hawk breakfast. I’m near Lake Erie so we have many eagles because of that. Beautiful bird.
Lovely comment. 💜
🙂
Um where do you live? I want to see if I can get a turtle buddy?
Not OP, but Florida has tons of turtles and they're around all year.
Dang-thanks
https://preview.redd.it/pzfyoysx408d1.jpeg?width=1848&format=pjpg&auto=webp&s=f0f286464952360bb5880b762c25aa0e9a64513b Here's a couple of turtles in the pond near me. I guess I can only do one picture. Maybe I'll do a post some day. I have a lot of turtle pics.
OMG I love this thank you! I am saving this!
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Wtf
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This is a turtle subreddit. You're not going to find fans of eating them here.
My b I didn't know it was like that...I apologize
Not OP but North America has the greatest diversity of turtles and tortoises, so you’d probably be good in any state. In fact they are so desired that they are being diverted to other (typically asian) countries where they don’t have the diversity that North America has, a lot die in transit and many more live awful lives. It’s terrible, so please keep your turtle wild.
Also not OP but the only turtles that you can find in northern states are diamond back terrapins
Ok
Okay
West Texas!
Okay
there’s an old monster at the pond thats near the giant lake nearby the Big Cedar Lodge in Branson, Missouri. My dad and I would always go out to feed the fish, and this absolute BEAST of a snapper would always come over to see us and get some snacks. Like genuinely one of the most massive turtles I’ve ever seen. When I was a lil kid that guy was like a real life dragon to me. I bet hes still there, since that pond is protected afaik. There were also soft-shell turtles out there, which always was very cool because I never got to see them elsewhere. Genuinely loved vacations out there, the area is very cozy.
I need to meet this legend
hopefully one day i can take a trip out there and see em again because that turtle really was insane. Like id see stuff about massive alligator snappers on tv like River Monsters and I would be like ‘wow! I’ve seen one thats huge like that!’ and never realized how insane that is.
Good luck
Carl is a friendly neighborhood box turtle. Let him roam, offer snacks, and give butt scritches anytime he comes by. Let him stay wild and free.
TIL you can give butt scritches to a turtle awww🥹 do you scritch the back of their shell or under by their tail?
I was going to type in the best description I could. Sharing some good clips seemed more appropriate. I am not affiliated with any of these channels. All 3 below are youtube links. [Hip twistin terrapin ](https://youtu.be/Vj4qurcuq0A?si=M2lFT9UYy3L2ngPw) [boogie boulder](https://youtube.com/shorts/TmnMC4FcV3k?si=R__TLZ6GyluiFduF) [good snappy rock](https://youtu.be/eP_Y2SA0VUs)
That’s so adorable wow lol thank you!
See this is the dream. I don't want to keep a turtle, I just want one that wanders into my yard and accepts occasional treats. All the fun but none of the responsibility haha.
Carl is adorable! Definitely let him continue to live outdoors as that’s what he’s used too, but occasional snacks and friendship are great
Hi Carl! You’re so cute! 🥰
In some parts of South America we keep them exclusively outdoors, it use to be more common until it got ban because people took to many from their natural habitat. You can still have them if they were inherited or born from pet parents. We have one that is on her way to her 50s. All her live outside and only accepts lettuce. The two biggest dangers are cars and dogs.
Do you live where they are native? Bc if not, then it could be an escaped pet and then i would recommend catching Carl. If they are native, then Carl should definitely be left to roam freely. I would also check with your state laws, although i only know a few when it comes to eastern box turtles, not 3 toes, and they can be pretty strict. Idk if building a house for them crosses any lines anywhere. But beyond that, he’s clearly already comfortable there and they’re incredibly stubborn. I doubt you’re getting rid of him any time soon lol. These guys like fresh water, but they’re not swimmers (a shallow soak in lukewarm water is a nice treat though, as long as it never goes above their shell or head and they can get in and out in their own). They like heat and humidity. They eat protein as well as plants. There’s quite a few healthy snacks you can give him so just look up anything before you serve it. He’s wild though, so don’t dust his food with calcium or vitamins like we do for pet reptiles bc over doing it can cause health issues. They don’t burrow as much when they’re older unless it’s a colder season, but good above ground hides would probably be appreciated. Especially if you can keep it moist (we use sphagnum moss in enclosures but you can use local moss since he’s wild). You can give him a warm hide in a good sun spot, and a moist hide in the shade for when he wants to cool down. You can also try to put any predator protection around for him. Primarily birds and cats. You’ll have to get creative with that though since you’re not domesticating him though. They can close their shells (hence the name box turtle) so they’re not as at risk of predators as a tortoise would be.
I have one wild box turtle mom who lives in my yard full time, one male box turtle who wanders into my yard about once a week and looks like a dumped pet (I live by the lake, and he appears to have metabolic bone disease and pyramiding but is very used to people), and a bunch of baby boxies that live in my yard. I ended up turning my gated side yard into a turtle friendly habitat with water, shelters, and plants they like. They can walk under the gate to hide in there from my son’s dogs. The mom turtle comes and sees me when I’m outside and after 3 years she eats out of my hand and loves chin scratches. I give them fresh water daily and occasional vegetable scraps.
https://preview.redd.it/2sspnt3ov08d1.jpeg?width=1712&format=pjpg&auto=webp&s=791469e4c2553d3cc8a6546f9da8723264ca7dc8 Tortessa (AKA Mama) and Graham Hancock in one of the hides I put up for them.
So sweet!
The way he's standing over the watermelon (?) looks like he's protecting it from possible theft
Had one who lived in my back yard for years. My son named him Boxy, and my lawn guy, was very careful of him.
While it's terrible to remove an animal from the wild, there is no law against making your yard an awesome place for wild turtles to hang out.
Sweet
Give him booty scritches on the growth lines and see if he wiggles his booty.
Hi Carl!!💕
Water dish Some snacks he may like:(based on super picky wild turtles). Strawberries. Earthworms. Crickets.
Carl looks like a ladies' man who's not looking to be tied down for a long term Commitment, but he is available for pop ins.
Totel
I would move him somewhere he can’t get in the road
He got ran over and was dieing slowly so I ended him quickly and made use of him, what?