By Leslie Bishop, for the Democrat
In May and June, after spring rains and warming temperatures, Eastern box turtles emerge from their winter hibernation and continue the cycle of feeding, mating and laying eggs until fall’s cooler temperatures drive them back into a safe place in the forest floor.
Why do turtles cross the roads?
Box turtles eat a range of food: snails, worms, insects, spiders, fruits, berries, leaves and many types of mushrooms. Their search for food takes them across roads. If they are removed from their territory, they will attempt to return — and will have to cross more roads to get there.
Not only are box turtles moving across the roads to find food, but adults also are looking for mates. Mating may take place between April and September. However, females have the amazing ability to store sperm and lay fertile eggs up to four years after mating.
After mating, females seek out soft soil in a warm, sunny site for nesting. Usually in June, she may travel a mile and cross several roads in doing so. If she perceives that the best place to lay eggs is across the road, she will try to go there no matter how many cars whiz by. When she finds an appropriate place, she will lay three to six leathery eggs in a hole about four inches deep. She tends to lay eggs in close proximity to last years’ nest.
The eggs take two to three months to hatch, but during that time the nest is highly vulnerable to predators. The babies that do manage to hatch are then often prey to dogs, coyotes and raccoons, plus crows, bullfrogs and snakes such as copperheads. It is thus an amazing feat for a turtle to reach adulthood and avoid all the possible predators at different life stages.
A box turtle reaches adult size at age 20, and can live between 30 and 40 years — if he or she also avoids collision with a car or mower.
Turtles’ movements are directional, which is why it is important to put them in the same direction they are going.
If you find an injured turtle, go to wildlifehotline.info and click “Find a Professional.” Or call Utopia Wildlife Center in Hope, 812-546-6318.
