Eastern Box Turtle!

This box turtle took a sip from the pond and crawled back into the asters across the path while we were eating lunch today. I put down my fork and grabbed my camera to get this shots of his gorgeous shell and markings.

Eastern Box Turtles (Terrapene carolina ssp. carolina) have a conservation status of Vulnerable. They face significant threats to their survival but are better off than the next category: Endangered. They don’t do well with development, cars, or collectors.

If you spot a Box Turtle, please leave them alone unless they are in the road. Then slide a car mat under them and ease them across the road in the same direction they were going. Don’t pick them up by the tail.

Here he is going into the pond.

Look at that spotted head and mighty clawed foot!

And here he is across the path and heading into the asters. I hope he finds a good home here and has a family.