Just a few of the 120 or so box turtles I have met and recorded in our forest over the past four years. The variety of “scute”(scale) patterns, even in our small population, is truly amazing. Some individuals are so unique, I recognize them right away if I’ve seen them once in the past.

Wasn’t looking for any of them, just happened to be there when they were too. After a warm rain is the best time to bump into a box turtle. All box turtles should be sleeping underground now, though I did see one that had surfaced last December on a 70+ degree day. When they emerge in April they’re covered with mud.