Box Turtle and Tortoise Discussion :: boxie in my backyard

[octpusgirl8]

I was having some coffee this morning, checking out my garden through the kitchen window, when i saw something stumble out from behind my shed. At first i thought it was the groundhog poking his head out to see if the zucchini were ready, but i soon realized it was a beautiful little box turtle He made his way over to the garden, had some green beans, and strolled off into the weeds by the fence. I'm totally excited, and i'm wondering if anybody has any suggestions on how to make my backyard box turtle friendly. It's a small backyard, so i can't do anything that takes up a lot of space, but i could plant something in the garden that they especially like. Any ideas?

[Diamondbacks4Life]

Anything that gets berrys. Box turtle love to eat the fallen berrys. I know someone that has had a box turtle come to his blueberry bush for 10 years now every summer. Once a box turtle find a good place to get food they return every year

[tammi]

I used to have a friend years ago who would find box turtles and put them
In his back yard and didn't make if where they couldn't leave. But every morning he would make a huge plate of veggies and fruits
And sit it out on the porch and all the box turtles would swarm the porch for their share.
He also had a deck that was raise slightly and the turts would hid under there. He had blue berries and blackberries planted along the fence.
And about once a month he would buy a huge batch of earth worms and dump on the porch.
It was so fun watching all the turtles. That's where I started my love for all kinds of tutles.

[octpusgirl8]

Thanks for the suggestions! I'm going to plant some things in the garden that a boxie might like, some lettuces and some strawberries. I have a fig tree, he might like that once the figs are ripe. What about a shelter or water feature of some kind? I'm on a very tight budget (as well as space being a concern) but i could make room for a little mini pond if that would be appreciated. I live close to the water, but it's the Chesapeake so it's brackish water, not what a turtle would be interested in as far as i know.

[Diamondbacks4Life]

Sure here are real simple water feature and shelter you can add for them.

Take a Ceramic and clay pot and break at one end. This is a real simple shelter.
http://turtle_tails.tripod.com/raisingb ... bt9_13.jpg
http://turtle_tails.tripod.com/raisingb ... bt9_17.jpg

A simple water feature is just using a simple plastic saucer
http://turtle_tails.tripod.com/backyard ... yt1_23.JPG
http://turtle_tails.tripod.com/backyard ... yt1_35.JPG

[octpusgirl8]

Awesome, thank you!