Eastern Box Turtles (Willow & Friends)
Eastern Box Turtles are Michigan’s only truly terrestrial turtle. They have a tall shell which is highly specialized for protection. The plastron, or underside, of the shell has a hinge on it which allows the turtle to completely enclose its soft body inside of its shell. They are usually brilliantly colored and patterned with each turtle having a pattern unique to itself (like how fingerprints are to humans!) Their colors range from black and brown to red, orange and yellow. The patterns on their shells assist them with camouflaging in the forest where they are usually found amongst the leaf litter and other detritus. Adults range in size from 4.5 to 7.8 inches long.
Eastern Box Turtles can be found in the southern and western Lower Peninsula. Locally common in southwestern counties, they have almost completely disappeared from their previous Michigan range. Loss of wooded habitat to various human uses is the most serious threat to the species, but many are also killed on roads or collected as pets each year.
Eastern Box Turtles eat a wide variety of plants and small animals such as insects, worms, slugs, snails, carrion, mushrooms, berries, fruit and occasional greens. They may wander into gardens for a snack (especially tomato, melon and strawberries) but can easily be fenced out. Females can lay fertile eggs for up to four years after one mating. Most nesting takes place in June with females laying 4 to 8 eggs in a clutch. Incubation takes from 75 to 90 days. Hatchlings are gray or brown with a single yellow spot on each carapace scute and spend much of their time hiding under leaves and debris (think dewberries – low to the ground and pokey) and are rarely seen. The plastral hinge does not function yet but they can give off a foul smelling odor if threatened.
At Sarett Nature Center, we have four ambassador Eastern Box Turtles. Two of them (CJ and Blue) sustained injuries which prevented them from being able to be released back into the wild, while the other two (Lumpy and Willow) were surrendered pets. We also have one Three-toed Box Turtle (Muffin) who was also donated as an surrendered pet many years ago. If you visit the nature center, you may see them chowing down on some berries or worms, stacking up under the basking light, or hiding in the “turtle garage”.
It is illegal to own an Eastern Box Turtle as a pet in Michigan due to their threatened status. With this status comes special protections like not being able to own them as a pet which should reduce wild collection for the pet trade and gives organizations like Sarett a chance to work with larger organizations such as John Ball Zoo towards Species Survival Plans and captive rearing. Sarett holds special permits issued by the DNR to own these animals as educational ambassadors.
