ARKANSAS, USA — With spring in full swing, you may spot some shelled friends here and there. Thankfully, the Arkansas Game and Fish Commission (AGFC) is telling motorists and environmentalists everything they need to know about our seasonal roommates— the box turtle.
First and foremost, the three-toed box turtle is one of the most common turtles in Arkansas, and they are both protected and illegal to own, according to the AGFC.
AGFC states that if you see a turtle on the side of the road, safely steer clear, and if possible, pull over to the side of the road and carefully move them in the direction they're headed.
Many turtles can retract into their shells, but box turtles get their name from their ability to lift their lower shell to completely seal out attackers, forming a snug "box."
This defense makes attacks by most small predators useless, leaving disease and car accidents as the top causes of death for an individual turtle.
Kelly Irwin, AGFC's Herpetological Program Coordinator, says three-toed box turtles often stay within the same 10- to 25-acre range for their entire life and have a strong homing instinct.
Irwin said if they are moved outside of their original home, they may spend the rest of their lives wandering around trying to reorient themselves, especially if other turtles have already made homes in the new area. Due to this and their complex nutritional needs, AGFC strongly advises against keeping them as pets.
Speaking of nutrition, the average box turtle lives between 50-80 years off a diet of worms, insects, snails, slugs, berries, mushrooms, and other leafy vegetation, according to AGFC.
"One recent study moved a number of box turtles to a new location and tracked their movements," Irwin said. "Only 47% of those moved established a home range in the new area. The rest wandered away or died."
Dr. Jenn Ballard, AGFC's wildlife veterinarian, says moving or concentrating turtles can introduce diseases or parasites to new areas, which can impact populations of turtles.
Another common practice is to mark or cover a turtle’s shell in paint so it will be recognizable, but the AGFC is warning against that, stating that painting a turtle a bright color makes it easier for predators to find it.
The paint also can be toxic to turtles depending on the type used.
If someone wants to release a turtle they’ve held in captivity, they should find a local expert who knows how to handle turtles to ensure it is able to survive and does not pose a risk of spreading disease or parasites it may have picked up during it's time as a pet.
Ballard says there are some rehabilitators who specialize in turtles among the ones listed here.
Watch 5NEWS on YouTube.
Download the 5NEWS app on your smartphone:
Stream 5NEWS 24/7 on the 5+ app: How to watch the 5+ app on your streaming device
To report a typo or grammatical error, please email KFSMDigitalTeam@tegna.com and detail which story you're referring to.