Eastern Box Turtle

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.