Fauna
Reptile

Common Box Turtle

Terrapene carolina

Also known as Eastern Box Turtle, Carolina Box Turtle

Eastern woodlands and damp meadows ring with the silent wanderings of the Common Box Turtle, a dome-shelled reptile famous for its completely hinged plastron that seals tight when threatened. These long-lived omnivorous reptiles forage slowly through leaf litter for wild berries, mushrooms, and invertebrates while maintaining home ranges they occupy for decades. Males often feature bright red eyes, whereas females typically possess brown or yellow-brown eyes paired with flatter lower shells.

TerrestrialOmnivoreReptile
Common Box Turtle reference1 / 7
“Jonathan Zander (Digon3)" / CC BY-SA 3.0 · cc-by-sa
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VulnerableConservation statusIUCN Red List categoriesLCNTVUENCREWEXVulnerableRed List categories, explained →
Key facts
Diet & preyEarthworms, Fungi, Blackberries
Predators
  • Raccoons
  • Skunks
  • Coyotes
ThreatsHabitat fragmentation, road mortality, illegal pet trade collection
HabitatsDeciduous forests, damp meadows, brushy fields, forest edges
Life span50–100 years
Classification
  1. FamilyEmydidae
  2. GenusTerrapene
  3. SpeciesTerrapene carolina
Range & activity
Range data is not available yet.
Safe observation
Interaction riskLow
  1. Low
  2. Moderate
  3. High
  4. Very high
Why interaction risk is low
Safe to observe at a normal distance.
What to notice
Look for a high-domed carapace with yellow or orange pattern lines and a tightly hinged lower shell.
Support conservation
Never relocate a wild box turtle to a new area or take it home as a pet; photograph it where found.
Responsible observation
  • Road Crossing: If helping one off a road, always move it in the exact direction it was already heading.
  • Leave in Place: Avoid relocating wild turtles, as they often spend their entire lives within a small home range.
  • Observation Distance: Observe quietly from a few paces away without picking up the turtle to prevent stress.
Related species
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