Wheeling in Ohio County, West Virginia — The American South (Appalachia)
Eastern Box Turtle
Box turtles can be found in forests and grasslands of the eastern United States. They spend their time foraging throughout their range searching for plants and invertebrates that make up the majority of their diet.
The most notable feature on a box turtle is its shell. The colors of the shell make the turtle virtually invisible on the forest floor. The patterns of the shell are like fingerprints, each turtle is different. The lower part of the shell, known as the plastron, has a hinge which enables the box turtle to close its head and legs inside the shell just like closing a box.
You Can Help Box Turtles!
If you see a box turtle on the roadway, move it across the road in the direction it was heading. Do not try to relocate it! Box turtles have a homing instinct and will try to return to their original home range when moved to a new area. This attempt to return home often has unfortunate results.
Do not take turtles home with you! Collection for the pet trade is illegal in most places and is a major factor in box turtle population decline.
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Topics. This historical marker is listed in these topic lists: Animals • Environment • Industry & Commerce.
Location. 40° 5.848′ N, 80° 40.029′ W. Marker is in Wheeling, West Virginia, in Ohio County. Marker is on Zoo Circle, 0.1 miles south of Waddington Drive, on the right when traveling north. Touch for map. Marker is at or near this postal address: 705 Zoo Cir, Wheeling WV 26003, United States of America. Touch for directions.
Other nearby markers. At least 8 other markers are within walking distance of this marker. Bobcat (about 300 feet away, measured in a direct line); White-Naped Crane (about 300 feet away); Snow Leopard (about 400 feet away); Bald Eagle / Amelia the Bald Eagle (about 400 feet away); Species Survival Plan (about 400 feet away); Central Chinese Goral (about 500 feet away); Alpaca (about 500 feet away); Llama (about 500 feet away). Touch for a list and map of all markers in Wheeling.
Credits. This page was last revised on April 24, 2022. It was originally submitted on April 24, 2022, by Devry Becker Jones of Washington, District of Columbia. This page has been viewed 59 times since then and 6 times this year. Photos: 1, 2. submitted on April 24, 2022, by Devry Becker Jones of Washington, District of Columbia.
