| Terrapene carolina carolina |
| Eastern box turtle |
Key Characteristics
The Eastern Box Turtle is a small land turtle with a high-domed carapace (top part of shell) and a hinged plastron (bottom part of shell) which allows it to close its shell tightly and hide its head, legs and tail. The carapace has a slight keel (raised ridge) along the midline and ranges from 5-8 inches (12-20 cm) in length. It is brown or black with a highly variable pattern of yellow or orange markings within each scute (a large scale or plate). The plastron can be yellowish, brown or black and is either plain or marked with blotches or lines. Males are usually larger and more brightly colored than females, often have reddish or pinkish eyes (brown in females) and a concave plastron (flat or slightly convex in females).
Status and Rank
- State Status: SC - Special Concern (rare or uncertain; not legally protected)
- State Rank: S2S3 - Rank is uncertain, ranging from imperiled to vulnerable
- Global Rank: G5T5
Occurrences
| County Name | Number of Occurrences | Year Last Observed |
|---|---|---|
| Allegan | 20 | 2008 |
| Baraga | 1 | 1977 |
| Barry | 17 | 2008 |
| Benzie | 2 | 1981 |
| Berrien | 29 | 2007 |
| Branch | 1 | 1937 |
| Calhoun | 9 | 2007 |
| Cass | 14 | 2007 |
| Clare | 1 | 1994 |
| Eaton | 1 | 2008 |
| Hillsdale | 1 | 1933 |
| Houghton | 1 | 1977 |
| Ingham | 2 | 2004 |
| Ionia | 3 | 2006 |
| Isabella | 1 | 1964 |
| Jackson | 7 | 2008 |
| Kalamazoo | 40 | 2005 |
| Kent | 16 | 2006 |
| Lake | 8 | 2003 |
| Leelanau | 1 | 1979 |
| Lenawee | 7 | 1986 |
| Livingston | 1 | 1998 |
| Manistee | 7 | 2006 |
| Mason | 5 | 2006 |
| Mecosta | 2 | 2003 |
| Monroe | 3 | 2000 |
| Montcalm | 1 | 2002 |
| Muskegon | 12 | 2008 |
| Newaygo | 5 | 2005 |
| Oakland | 2 | 1998 |
| Oceana | 6 | 2006 |
| Ottawa | 3 | 2007 |
| St. Joseph | 4 | 2007 |
| Van Buren | 12 | 2006 |
| Washtenaw | 6 | 2001 |
| Wexford | 1 | 1960 |
![Occurrence Map for [Sname]](/mnfi/maptmp/NFR_Distributions12590196595688.png)
Information is summarized from MNFI's database of rare species and community occurrences. Data may not reflect true distribution since much of the state has not been thoroughly surveyed.
Habitat
The Eastern Box Turtle is Michigan's only truly terrestrial turtle. It typically occurs in forested habitats with sandy soils near a source of water such as a stream, pond, lake, marsh or swamp. They also may be found in adjacent thickets, old fields, pastures, or vegetated dunes. Access to unshaded nesting sites in sandy, open areas, is critical for successful reproduction.
Natural Community Types
- Northern hardwood swamp
- Southern hardwood swamp
- Great lakes marsh
- Mesic northern forest
- Mesic southern forest
- Inundated shrub swamp
- Northern shrub thicket
- Southern shrub-carr
- Northern fen
- Prairie fen
- Oak-pine barrens
- Oak openings
- Coastal fen
Management
Conservation efforts should concentrate on protecting large tracts of habitat especially on public land to provide the box turtle additional protection from the effects of development. Wetland hydrology and quality should be maintained by preventing improper off-road vehicle use, implementing minimum development set-back distances, leaving buffer zones during timber harvest, grazing and agricultural operations, minimizing use of herbicides and pesticides in or near wetlands, and/or controlling invasive plants. Upland nesting areas should be identified, protected and in some cases created. Construction of new roads should be minimized or routed to avoid separating foraging and/or overwintering habitat from nesting areas. Finally, the public should be educated about the laws protecting reptiles and amphibians and encouraged to leave wild turtles in their natural habitats rather than collecting them for pets.
Active Period
Nesting from first week of June to third week of July
Breeding from first week of May to second week of October
Active from fourth week of April to fourth week of October
Survey Methods
Eastern Box Turtles can be seen anytime during the active season between April and October, although most sightings coincide with nesting or egg laying which occurs from early June through mid-July. Weather is an important factor in determining turtle activity as they often emerge to feed and are often found after a rainstorm. Otherwise, box turtles spend a great deal of time buried under leaf litter, brush piles and rotting logs, especially during hot, dry weather.
- Visual encounter survey
- Survey Period: From first week of June to third week of July
- Time: Daytime
Air Temperature: Above 60 degrees
- Time: Daytime
Air Temperature: Above 60 degrees
- Survey Period: From fourth week of April to fourth week of October
- Time: Daytime
Air Temperature: Above 60 degrees
- Time: Daytime
Air Temperature: Above 60 degrees
- Survey Period: From first week of June to third week of July
More Information
See MNFI Species AbstractReferences
Survey References
- Karns, D.R. 1986. Field Herpetology: Methods for the Study of Amphibians and Reptiles in Minnesota. Occ. Pap. No. 18. J.F. Bell Museum of Natural History, University of Minnesota, Minneapolis.
Technical References
- Ernst, C.H., J.E. Lovich, and R.W. Barbour. 1994. Turtles of the United States and Canada. Smithsonian Institution Press, Washington, D.C. 578pp.
- Harding, J.H. 1997.Amphibians and Reptiles of the Great Lakes Region. The University of Michigan Press, Ann Arbor. 378pp.
- Harding, J.H. and J.A. Holman. 1990. Michigan Turtles and Lizards. East Lansing Cooperative Extension Service, Michigan State University Bulletin E-2234. 94pp.
- Hyde, D.A. 1999. Special Animal Abstract for Terrapene c. carolina (Eastern box turtle). Michigan Natural Features Inventory, Lansing, MI. 3pp.
- Stickel, L.F. 1950. Populations and home range relationships of the box turtle, Terrapene c. carolina (Linnaeus). Ecological Monographs. 20: 352-378.