r/tortoise • u/JustScrollin4dayz • 19h ago

Question(s) Help with backyard tortoise

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This cutie seems to live in my backyard. I have seen him/her randomly in my fenced backyard over the last few years.

The yard is pretty large (about .5 acres) and I noticed that he/she is often in the bushes next to the house. I need to clear those overgrown bushes but I don’t want to leave this guy/girl without a safe space.

Should I try to build him a little house where the plants and bushes were? I am in the US (South Carolina) so it gets pretty hot in the summer. I see him/her out and about in other areas of the yard, but the last time I cleared the plants and bushes up against the house I saw him there and think I took his/her home.

Any ideas you can share would be greatly appreciated. I want to make sure he or she is safe and happy.

27 Upvotes

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5

u/Littlest-Fig 19h ago

Looks like a box turtle which is a protected species. Better leave him where he is unless he's in immediate danger.

4

u/JustScrollin4dayz 19h ago

Thank you for letting me know what type of little guy/girl they are. I didn’t plan to move them. I think they were at this house longer than I have been .

I just wanted to know if I should put some type of shelter out for them if/when I clear out the bushes. Since I see them mostly up by the house.

5

u/Stewart_Duck 19h ago

No, they're fine. They'll bury themselves underground or in leaf litter when they need to. They're very territorial and will spend their entire life in a small area roughly the size of a football field, give or take. When you clear the bushes, they'll just move to another part of the area. Chances are, they're just coming into the bushes to hunt worms out of the landscaping.

3

u/JustScrollin4dayz 19h ago

Thank you :)) I am happy to know a bit about its lifestyle.

2

u/croastbeast 19h ago

You likely dont need to do that. Theyll find another "house". Eastern Box turtles have a very strong homing mechanism, and rarely stray out of their home territory. t will likely move to another covered area in your yard.

1

u/JustScrollin4dayz 19h ago

Thank you for your response. I have been looking up information about box turtles now that I know what he/she is :))

I know they have been living in the yard for years so I guess they know the layout better than I do.

I appreciate everyone’s help - I guess I have to give the little one a name now.

4

u/SuicideSqurral 14h ago

If you want you can plant some native shrubs and grasses to your area to hide under. They also eat cactus and native fruits.

2

u/JustScrollin4dayz 13h ago

I meant to reply this to you - I did have some blackberries that kind of overran the yard - maybe I will find a space in the yard to let them grow :)) - and I am totally down to plant some more plants he/she might like - I also have some rabbits in my backyard to they will like it too. I have a whole new plan for the backyard now :))

2

u/SuicideSqurral 13h ago

I am turning my new yard into a pollinator garden. I love the fuzzy butts and smooth butts sticking out of flowers. (Bumble bees and carpenter bees)

2

u/JustScrollin4dayz 13h ago

Awesome! I have bumble bees and butterflies- I will look into planting to help them pollinate.

2

u/Aggravating_Use_3526 13h ago

Probably looking for food in the grass. They hunt for earthworms after a rain brings them to the surface. Your yard looks like a great place for earthworms and bugs.

1

u/VTHokie79 3h ago

That’s a box turtle. Move them to a more wooded area away from whatever you want to do on your property. Don’t build a house. Let them be.