Outdoor Enclosures for Box Turtles
(And other Terrestrial Turtles)
For those of us who are lucky enough to live in a temperate area with normally good weather, we are able to give our Box turtles occasional time “outside”. In some parts of the U.S. this means just an occasional vacation out in the sun for a few hours a day, where in other areas this extends out to sometimes weeks or even months. And for those of us in the Southern and Western States it can very well mean having our turtles outside all year long, even during the mild winters where they will naturally hibernate and reemerge in spring.
Because of this, Box turtle owners frequently inquire about the ways of properly constructing outdoor areas for their turtles. Areas that provide good exposure to the sun, adequate areas of shade to escape the midday heat, access to clean water, and of course provide a safe environment. But before these questions can be addressed properly, it is important to review a few basic traits common to Box Turtles and many other terrestrial turtles. Once these traits are recognized, they can be provided for within your turtle’s new outdoor paradise.
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Temperature: Box Turtles are not generally a mid-day or “basking” family of turtles. Anyone who has studied Box Turtles in an outdoor setting, and within their natural habitats note that most Box Turtles are usually active between the 65-80 degree range. Typically, more lively in the cooler morning hours, and diving for cover as the mid-day heat arrives. It is usually far later in the day, with temperatures subsiding, that they reemerge to forage for food before evening. Overheating must therefore be a prime concern when designing a proper outdoor enclosure, and plenty of areas of shade must be incorporated into the design.
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Water and Feeding: Box turtles have a well-known fondness for water. Along with a common shallow container of drinking water, a place within the enclosure where a small water hole or flooded grass area can be created is a special treat. Soaking, digging, and foraging for insects in the cool water, mud, and grass is a favorite past time in outdoor settings. It also allows for an area where the turtles can cool down if daytime heat becomes oppressive, and of course remain hydrated. Food sources, such as TropicZone Box Turtle diets or complimentary fresh items should be kept dry in a shaded/covered area.
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Safety: Box Turtles, like most turtles, are escape artists. Their uncanny ability to climb is often times overlooked or underestimated. They are also accomplished diggers, which means that they have equal skill at escaping an outdoor enclosure from below as from above. Construction of a proper outdoor enclosure must take these traits to heart, or your turtles will soon be headed down the road to greener pastures. Equally as important as keeping your turtles inside the enclosure is keeping potentially harmful elements outside the enclosure: neighborhood dogs, cats, and even wild animals and birds could possibly be a problem you didn’t count on. Always side on the side of safety for your turtles. One final note on safety is in regard to the use of glass containers such as aquariums or terrariums, these glass units should NOT be used in outside conditions with terrestrial turtles, as the glass tends to amplify the sun’s rays (much like a greenhouse) and can easily cause problems through overheating.