Cropped version of photo by Y a T R a @ Flickr; licensed under CC BY 2.0
Can you? Technically yes. But the better question is “Should you?”. And the answer is most likely no.
A box turtle you find outside is most likely wild. And wildlife should be left free whenever possible. A lot of states also have laws about what you are allowed to do with local wildlife. Usually you are supposed to leave it alone.
Keeping That Turtle Could Be Illegal
In some states it is actually illegal to take a turtle from the wild. Yes, this includes turtles you find wandering in the road. (You might not consider the road to be “wild,” but in this case it is).
Some states only have rules about certain species of box turtle. Especially ornates. Many states do not let you keep ornate box turtles for any reason. Others make you get a license to keep one legally.
Box Turtles Have Feelings, Too
How would you feel if someone plucked you off the street and stuck you in a cage? Even a nice cage full of your favorite furniture and food? Of course, that assumes that the creatures that captured you know your favorites. Which is unlikely because you can’t tell them. They don’t know if you’re a beer and pizza or champagne and caviar kind of person.
No, box turtles don’t have the same brain power as us, but they can still feel on some level. And different turtles do have favorite foods and habits. And in the wild they know where to find these things. So a wild turtle will generally feel happiest living free in the wild.
So the turtle in the field? You should probably let him go on his way.
Wild Box Turtles May Carry Disease
Actually so can box turtles from pet stores. In fact, reptiles in general can carry bacteria, especially salmonella, on their skin. This is the same bacteria that can cause food poisoning if you eat undercooked chicken or raw eggs.
So unless you are careful, that cute box turtle could make you miserably sick.
Yes, plenty of people keep these turtles as pets without getting sick. But getting one on the spur-of-the-moment because you “found” it is not the best way to stay safe. Especially if you have a young child or elderly person at home. Or if you’re pregnant. Salmonella can be especially dangerous for these groups of people.
You Can Help a Turtle in Danger
That said, if you find a box turtle in a situation where he’s likely to get hurt or killed—like the middle of a road—you can move him to safety. Just make sure you do it safely. In other words, don’t risk your own life or other people’s lives darting through busy traffic.
If you can tell what direction the turtle is moving, take him in that direction. If you bring him back to where he came from, he will most likely just get right back into the road or whatever dangerous situation you found him in. There’s a reason he’s going where he’s going, even if you don’t know what it is.
But don’t take it too far when deciding on a “safe” spot. If he’s crossing a road, just take him to the other side of that road. Don’t take him to the park across town or the nature preserve one village over. He’ll probably just try to get home and may get hurt (or killed) trying.
Believe it or not, turtles can and do live quite happily in cities. They have their own “home range,” and that’s where they want to stay. Home might just be the abandoned lot right next to where you found him!
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I found a box turtle today in the middle of my apartment building… it was in front of an apartment that people were just moving out of yesterday. We are SO SO far from any wildlife or nature areas & the complex is BRAND NEW so I don’t think he’s native. What do I do with him? I’m so conflicted. I brought him to my patio so a kid wouldn’t mess with him or something. Please help!
Hi Jazmyn,
You’d be surprised at the urban areas where box turtles can live. They’ve been found living in empty lots & even grassy areas next to parking lots. If your complex was built on a formerly empty space, it may very well have been the turtle’s home.
That said, if you feel it’s really not safe for it there now, see if there’s a wildlife rehabber near you who can help. We have some tips on finding one on our How to Find Wildlife Rehabilitators page.
I don’t know where you’re located, but there are some rescues that specialize in turtles. And a few more that will take turtles sometimes. Try searching turtle rescue & your state to see if there’s any near you.
Hope this helps. Thanks for caring about this little boxie!
Hi! I found a box turtle today in my backyard! He was in a shaded area but I’m in South Jersey where it’s very hot and humid right now. I brought her in to cool off, but after reading some of your articles, dont know if I should keep her inside to cool off or not. Should I put her back where I found her with maybe some sliced strawberries and water?
Hi Alicia,
Thanks for caring about the box turtles! And yes, please put her back where you found her. Boxies know how to hide from the heat. Leaving her with some food and water would be very nice. Probably not strictly necessary, but I’d probably do it too. 🙂
Box turtles are wverywhere here in South Jersey. We find them all the time. I have two I’m looking at right now. They can take care of themselves. Put the tutle back.
is it legal to have a pet box turtle that i bought in Minnesota
I don’t know each state’s laws, so I can’t give you a definite answer. But a quick look at Minnesota’s DNR page about the amphibian & reptile pet trade looks like it’s legal to sell (and therefore own) non-native turtles. The box turtle isn’t mentioned on the page at all, including in the list of native turtles, so it would appear it falls into the non-native category. But again, I can’t say for sure what Minnesota’s laws are, or even how current that DNR page is. Sorry!
I’ve had a box turtle for over 2 years I want to set it free some people say it would die because it wouldn’t be able to find food because it’s been domesticated is that true.
Hi Melissa,
Yes, 2 years in captivity is too long to let it go. It might survive, but it most likely would die.
Also, you don’t say if the box turtle you have is native to your area, but if it isn’t it almost definitely will die if you let it go.
If you really can’t keep it, rehoming it is your best bet. Some rescue organizations will take box turtles (even if they don’t specialize in reptiles). And some rescues are specifically for turtles. Or reptiles in general. And there are a few reptile sanctuaries around the country. Do a search to see if any of those are near you. Some sanctuaries may also arrange to get the turtle from you to them even if they’re far away.
Thanks for caring about your turtle’s survival. And I hope you can find it a good new home.
15 years ago I was working in my back yard. Reached down in garden to move one of my resin turtles. And realized it was real. A box turtle. I just left it be . As the yard is chain link fencing, with steel flashing all around bottom of fence. I realized he had been their for years .yes he’s wild. And he has the run of back yard. I feed him fruit when he gets on my porch. No chemicals are used in back yard. As it is his home. He hibernates in back yard during winter. Then he shows up in spring.
Awesome! Giving him a safe space to let him do his thing is the perfect reaction to finding a box turtle in your yard. Although I’m guessing there was a bit of shock when you first realized it was alive, too! Thanks for sharing.
my daughter n friends caught a box turtle n hv it in a bucket n want to keep it as a pet n now im watchin it would it be wise to put it bck where they got it its not eatin amythin i dont want it to die
Hi Misty,
Yes, yes, yes! Please put it back exactly where they found it. (Obviously not in the middle of a road or anything, but a safe spot within a few feet of where they found it).
Wild box turtles really don’t do well in captivity.
Also, the number of these turtles in the wild just keeps dropping. And taking one out of the wild doesn’t just lower their number by 1. It also takes away any babies it might make in the future.
Thanks for caring about this turtle & wanting to do the right thing.
We found a box turtle crossing the road. They are clearing off both sides of this road to make a bigger road going right where the turtle was coming from and heading towards. There are a lot of heavy equipment on both sides of the road. Should we just help it cross or move it to a different location away from the construction?
Hi! So here’s my situation:
My friend actually found a turtle when he was on his way out and was going to take it somewhere safer because it was in the middle of the road, but he was in a rush and left it in his yard. Long story short, he’s had the turtle for almost a whole year. The turtle has lived in his backyard and was left to do it’s own thing. My friend ended up moving away though, and the turtle didn’t come out from it’s nest in time for him to take it. Should we just leave the fence gate open so that it can go back into the wild? Or would I be able to take it and put it in my own yard? Thanks for the help!
Hello, I have a resident box turtle that visits now and then from the woods behind our home in FL. Yesterday, I found her laying eggs under a tree that is right by my deck! I have dogs, so I put a barrier around the nest. She left the nest on her own, and didn’t cover the eggs very well, so I gently covered them with the soil around the nest. I did not pat it down, I just put the soil loosely over the nest. In 70 days, we may or may not have baby turtles, and I want to know what I should do with them. Since they will be very vulnerable in my backyard, should I place them in the woods where mom is? I am not sure how to handle this–I sure don’t want them to die. Thank you for any help and advice.
Hi Cindy, how awesome to see a turtle nesting! But also nerve-wracking thinking about those babies. Normally I’m in favor of just letting nature take its course. In theory the babies will probably find their way to the woods on their own in time (if it’s literally just behind your yard?). Or they could just make their home in your yard. But since you have dogs, and that can be a bad combination with even adult turtles, I’m less sure. Since I don’t know the specifics of your situation I don’t want to say you absolutely should do one thing or the other. But some things to think about between now & when the babies (hopefully) arrive: How aggressively do your dogs chase wildlife? If they don’t really care then the turtles might be safe. Do you supervise the dogs when they’re out so you might notice them going after the turtles? How much vegetation is in your yard that could provide cover for the babies? If you do move them, try to find a sheltered spot/dense vegetation/thick leaf cover where they can hide. You might also read this blog post on protecting baby turtles from the National Wildlife Federation. I hope you get to see baby boxies in a few weeks!
i just found a small baby box turtle while taking the garbage out at my apt complex and thought it might make a good pet for my kids as they have been begging me for a turtle but after reading these posts im thinking i should release it asap but im not sure because it is so small and i dont want it to die i wanna make my kids happy but i wanna do the right thing. we are in ms and im sure this is its native spot being that its so small what should i do
Hi William,
It’s always best, whenever possible, to leave a box turtle right where you found it or return it to the same spot. Obviously not in the middle of a road or parking lot, of course. In that case put it off to one side (preferably the side where it was heading) in a safe/sheltered spot.
If you think the spot where you found your little turtle is unsafe & there’s no safe spot nearby you might want to consider talking to a wildlife rehabilitator for advice more specific to your area & situation. I’m not sure where in MS you’re located, but I found Central Mississippi Wildlife Rehab and Gulf Coast Wildlife Rehab in the state. They may better be able to either reassure you that you can safely leave it go nearby or they may be able to take it to relocate it somewhere safer (relocating box turtles is usually a bad idea, but babies may accept it better than adults).
Thanks for caring about the welfare of this little one!
We have had a wild box turtle for about 3 weeks now that may have been injured. He’s doing really well, but just wondering if we should release now? We know the exact spot where he was found and could take him back. My son has grown attached to him but we want to do what is best for the turtle. Is 3 weeks to long to try and release? We would be happy to keep and take care of him.
Thanks for any advice.
Hi Jen!
Thanks for saving the box turtle! We’re not wildlife experts (this site is mostly about pet box turtles), but we’ve been learning! Wild turtles are pretty resilient and from what we’ve seen other, more experienced turtle people say they’ll keep their wild instincts for longer than a few weeks in captivity. So your turtle should be fine if you release it. And yes, putting it back in the same area where you found it is important.
If you’d like a pet box turtle, look for reptile rescues near you & see if they have any available for adoption. Or check Petfinder. You may not find one right away, but unreleasable boxies & surrendered pet boxies do show up for adoption regularly.
I brought home a box turtlle cause it was on a parking lot near a heavily trafficked road. It’s unhappy now. I live in a trailer park and I’m afraid to take turtle back outside, thinking maybe it was aBandoned. Will it find food, water and shelter on it’s own if it was a pet? Will it survive?
Hi Paula,
If the turtle was a pet it’s very unlikely it could survive on its own in the wild. That said, most of the time if you find a turtle in the wild it’s actually wild. Even if it’s in a heavily trafficked area. Box turtles do live successfully in urban areas.
My best advice whenever you’re really not sure what to do with a turtle is to try to find a wildlife rehabilitator in your area who handles turtles. I can only speak in general terms. A rehabber can give you better advice for your specific situation.
Oh no. I feel terrible now. I found a box turtle around base with a crack on her head. I kept her all these years. The wound healed and she’s doing way better than before. I didn’t realize it’s not recommended to keep a turtle. I’m afraid to leave her due to my attachment to her and because I had her for three years now. She’s growing and eating better. The only concern I have is her pigmentations aren’t as bright as they used to be.
Hi Amy! Thanks for your comment. If you’ve had her for 3 years it’s probably too late to let her go anyway. Turtles that have been in captivity for too long have a harder time surviving on their own. If I were you I’d keep her & make sure I’m giving her the best life possible. We have lots of information on What Box Turtles Eat, light, & humidity requirements. So if you haven’t already researched how to care for your boxie, do that!
My first thought with her fading color is that she’s not getting enough sunlight. Their color tends to fade in that case. The best thing would be if you can give her time outside in the sun on a regular basis (supervised, of course!). Next best is a good UV light for her habitat.
And now that you know, if you find a box turtle in the future, just let it go about its business. Unless it’s injured, in which case try to find a wildlife rehabber to help.
Hi,
I recently found an injured box turtle. A local rehabber estimated that he was 8-10 years old. He had a section of the top of his shell clipped off in a lawn mower accident. The vet cleaned his wound and gave him antibiotics. He seems very alert and fairly active. I’ve had him for 5 days and he still wont eat. I give him time in a warm water pool everyday to keep him hydrated. He likes to hide and sleep. I figure he is healing. The local rehab locations are all full and understaffed due to the pandemic, so gave me advice on what to do until he heals and I can epoxy his shell. They suggested 3 weeks of healing time. I’m keeping him warm 80-85 degrees and have built a habitat for him. I also take him out on warm days to let him get some sun in the area that he normally roams. Can you give me any suggestions to get him to eat. I’ve offered him all types of worms. vegetables, and fruit. No Luck. I fear if I release him that his wound will get reinfected and he will die.
Thanks,
Doug
Hi Doug,
Thanks for caring about this little turtle. I’m sorry to hear he won’t eat. We do have a page of suggestions for when your turtle won’t eat, but it sounds like you’re already doing all those things. My only other thought is that maybe he just came out of hibernation? It seems a little late, but if it’s been a chilly spring where you are, maybe he was just “sleeping in.” It’s pretty normal for them to not eat for several days after waking up.
I do agree that you probably don’t want to release him before he heals, but he certainly does need to eat. Can you contact the rehabber again to see if they have any suggestions? If they have experience with wild turtles they may have more insights. Or if the vet you used is a reptile expert, maybe see what they have to say? Sorry I can’t be more help.
Thanks for responding. I have good news. He has finally started eating and is quite the worm killer. I think the antibiotic kicked in and he finally feels better. His wound was pretty infected when I found him and the weather was chilly too. It’s warmed into the 80″s now and I have a heat lamp for his improvised habitat. During the day I let him roam in the yard and he normally finds a spot and takes a nap. What an interesting animal and I have learned a lot during this crash course. In a few weeks I can patch his shell and send him on his way.
That’s wonderful news! They really are fascinating, aren’t they? I so happy you found him & are helping him recover. He’s a lucky little turtle to have you looking out for him.
I’ve seen posts on Craigslist about a guy (I’m guessing) who said he had lots of CB box turtles. There was a pic of them all piled on top of each other in a kids plastic pool, some even upside down. It was awful. He was ‘getting out of breeding and selling them at $100 each).
He also had eggs and hatchlings. The most recent, he’s trying to find a home for the “last baby”, and has brought it down to $60. I’m pretty sure the “last baby” isn’t the last. Yesterday he’s adding its ‘tank’ into the price and I am disgusted. Its a glass vase. How can he keep a box turtle in a vase, this is all major animal cruelty in my eyes but I don’t know what to do about it. I do not live in SC, I’m in NC where it is illegal to sell turtles. If you want to see the post please look on Craigslist Greenville SC.
Oh, and I forgot, I posted a “re” about the listing and someone has informed me he does collect them from the countryside all around him and doesn’t care what he is doing is wrong.
I have 2 box turtles that live in my fenced yard. They hibernate from Oct. to April.
We are at high altitude and they seem to do well. Male has been here for over 7 yrs female for about 3. We recently found a silver dollar sized baby. We feed the adults when they come up to the door. I am worried about the baby will it know how to hibernate in our cold winters? If not what should I do. Thanks for any suggestions
Hi Cindy,
Baby box turtles are awesome, aren’t they? Turtles of all sorts are born “knowing” what to do. Whenever possible it’s best to just let them go about their lives as long as they’re not in an unsafe spot. And it sounds like your yard is quite the safe space! The one thing you might do, if you happen to see where baby digs in to hibernate is to add a layer of insulation over it, once you’re sure it’s burrowed in for the winter. Or you could prepare a spot & encourage baby to use it, then protect it. We have a page on hibernating pet boxies outside, so you could do something similar. Good luck!
Hi i really need help, found a really baby box turtle in delaware and its around mid october , i work landscape with my father and ive seen this baby turtle in various spots not too far from eachother (few inches a way each time) hes really small and still has a little egg tooth so i guess maybe a month and a half old i started to see him about a month ago. anyway a few nights ago it was gonna drop to around 40-50 degrees and my dad said we should take him home he will probably die (hes too little too go all the way in his shell or even to hid under thick brush hes too little to do anything) so we brought him home and i researched a bunch and made a really nice cage for him like top tier stuff in my opinion but he just doesnt do anything, doesnt move , doesnt eat , doesnr drink , ive tried to put him in very shallow water in the cage , ive dangled cut up pieces of worm in front of him and even berries but nothing, i really feel like i should let him go back in the spot i found him but at the same time i feel like he wont survive , what should i do ?? this is my 2nd day having him and i dont want him to die from starvation
Also he wasnt like up against anything just chilling right in the grass so i just dont know what to do , i have a small heat lamp for him and clean water and food everyday , a bunch of leaves and weeds in there for him to hide but thats all he does is hide , do you think maybe he’s hibernating ?? but at the same time i just dont know because do they even hibernate at such a young age??
Hi Dominick, I’m afraid I know very little about boxies that young. I do know the ones that hatch so late in the season often die over winter, so you probably saved his life bringing him inside. And the babies don’t eat for several weeks after hatching (they survive on their yolk sac), but it sounds like this one’s probably old enough it should be eating something. I have heard the babies prefer moving food (red wigglers seem popular), and apparently the babies rarely eat much green (sometimes berries, though). But I’ve also had people say their babies wouldn’t eat while they were around. They had to put the food in the habitat and step out of sight before baby would eat! Honestly I would try to connect with a wildlife rehabber near you who has more experience with baby turtles. The rehabber may even be able to take it, care for it for the winter, and release it come spring. Or give you advice on doing the same. Then it can go about being a turtle & hopefully help make more box turtles! We have tips on finding wildlife rehabbers here. Good luck!
Hello i found a box turtle on the side of the road I’ve had him for about a year and a half now.. I dont remember where I got him from. He’s been happy. I really don’t want to let him go I got attached to him. Do you feel like I should let him go? If so how would I go about putting him back where I found him ?
Hi Nikki,
I’m not 100% sure, but I believe that may be too long to have your turtle in captivity to just let him go again. In some places it’s actually illegal to let let turtles go, even if you originally found them in the wild. And since you’re not sure where you found him he may just spend time futilely trying to find home. Personally I’d keep giving him a happy, healthy home. But also, please leave any turtles you see in the future in the wild.
Hi my name is Katelin, So I have a question. So I have two ornate box turtles a female and a male. I’ve had the male for a year now and the female I was given to a few weeks ago. I love these turtles and they are very healthy, but I wanted to know if there is a way I can get papers somehow for them. It’s legal here to keep them and our only law on them is we can’t pick them up from the roads or use for Commercial purposes. My mon found the male in a field and the other one was found wondering in a back yard. The male had tape worms when I first found him and i read it was better to let them pass through feces till all gone which I did for several weeks until no more worms showed up in his feces and he’s been healthy since.
Hi Katelin,
I’ve never heard of papers for box turtles, other than when a state requires a license to keep them. For that you’d need to contact your state.