Box Turtle and Tortoise Discussion :: No more box turtles?

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Post Posted: Thu May 24, 2007 11:46 pm   No more box turtles?

I was wondering if anyone knew why box turtles are so hard to find anymore? When I bought my ornate box turtle 12 years ago they were in every pet store around here.....then I gave her away. Now I can't find one ANYWHERE. Anyone know the reason for this?
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Post Posted: Fri May 25, 2007 1:04 am   

I see box turtles all the time. I've seen them at PetCo recently and at this little exotic pet store near by my house. So maybe it is your location that doesn’t sell a lot of boxies.
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Post Posted: Fri May 25, 2007 1:14 am   

Populations of box turtles have plummeted in recent years, at least around here (north central Texas). One of the reasons is habitat loss and another is that so many have been taken for pets. It's very frowned upon to take them from the wild these days around here. That's probably why you're not seeing them in stores in some parts of the country. I guess in an area where they aren't endangered they could still be found in stores.
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Post Posted: Fri May 25, 2007 1:53 am   

Interesting. I know I've never seen them in stores around here, it's always tortoises. You might want to try a rescue organization, I was offered a pair of boxies tonight actually, from a rehabilitator. The only one I know off the top of my head is www.turtlehomes.org but it's worth looking into.
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Post Posted: Fri May 25, 2007 10:28 am   

Yes, I've seen lots of tortoises too, and wood turtles. But I REALLY want to find a box turtle. The people at the stores just look at me funny, "ok, whatever, good luck" lol. I filled out the application for a local reptile rescue but haven't heard back from them yet. I will check out the turtlehomes website too, I've just never been a big fan of mailing turtles.

hmm, maybe I could drive to colorado over the summer, lol.
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Post Posted: Fri May 25, 2007 11:50 am   

I've only seen RES in pet stores here, even reptile-y pet stores... so it must be regional
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Post Posted: Fri Jun 01, 2007 12:58 pm   

Box turtles are pretty rare here (CT). In the wild, one native species (forget which one at the moment) hasn't been sited for 5 years, and is considered to be virtually extinct.
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Post Posted: Sat Jun 02, 2007 12:47 am   

Wow, what's the deal with that? Wonder what is causing that.......

I found a store on the other side of the valley that says they will get one or two in a few weeks, so I'm going to keep trying there. Can't believe they are so rare now, only 10 years later..... :(
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Post Posted: Sat Jun 02, 2007 1:17 am   

I think a big factor is depletion of natural habitat due to urban sprawl. :(
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Post Posted: Sat Jun 02, 2007 3:19 pm   

Loss of habitat is most often cited as the number one cause of a species' demise. It's it's happening with birds a lot as well.
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