Found a box turtle - best ideas for an outdoor living area?

Question

This is my 2nd box turtle. The last one I had my boyfriend's mother threw out bc she said it would give us diseases....ANYWAY, after being highly pissed for a year, I found another one. This time instead of making a home outside in a big child's swimming pool, I would like to make it an area out in the yard with a little bit of wooded area around it. I need some ideas and help on how would be the best way to do this and what sizes, and what to use to be able to build a nice outdoor living area for my turtle. I know they can dig so what could I put up as a fencing area to keep the turtle in, and also what are some things that would be good to use for water/swimming areas, etc. Thanks for all your help!

Answer 1

for the sake of the turtle, just set him free.

Answer 2

If you found this guy in the wild, chances are he will not live long in captivity, whether it be inside or out. You should set him free, and buy a turtle that was born in captivity and is used to human contact. I got my red eared slider for free on Craig's List. His previous owner was moving and had to let him go. He came with aquarium, food, heat lamp, filter, and water heater. Keep your eyes open for a turtle in need of a good home and loving owner, not one who is used to living in the wild and all of a sudden his life is turned upside down. Turtles get very stressed, and it can definitely cause them physical problems, even death.

Answer 3

Box turtles are wild animals, let him go back where he was cos you're taking out breeding stock from the wild of a species already WAY WAY too low in populations.  

Answer 4

I hate to say it and you'll hate to hear it, but I won't be the only one to say as much. If you found it outside in the wild you need put it back where you found it. If you don't you are likely to lose him anyways. Wild animals stay that way. Especially turtles. If you bought him or are too stubborn to take good advice I would suggest, for the fencing to keep him in, chicken wire that is reinforced. Since it is a digger you should extend the fencing at least 2 feet into the ground. Even if he digs he probably won't dig that deep if he keeps hitting a dead end. They need a lot space!  As much as you can offer to him, give him. They love to roam around. The more space you give him the less likely he will be to try and find his real home (if he is wild). Make sure to put a lot of rocks and log like structures in the enclosure so that he can feel "safe" as they like to hide from "predators". For the swimming area you can still use the kiddie pool, just bury it mostly in the ground and cut some of the front out so that he can easily get in and out or you can use some other sort of dish, I've seen the bottoms of large planters used before. I hope that some of this is helpful to you and have fun with your new little guy!

Answer 5

the box turtle was on a box turtle mission before you interrupted it.  Please release the turtle in the same area that you found it.  

Answer 6

It is cruel to cage it.  Let it go.