Franklin E. Box Turtle Eastern Box Baltimore, MD

PLEASE READ THE FOLLOWING BEFORE CONTACTING MATTS OR requesting an application. Many of your questions will be answered below.

I have a home lined up, but MATTS likely has other box turtles like me for adoption. I'm an adult male eastern box turtle (Terrapene carolina carolina) for adoption in the Baltimore/Timonium, MD, area. My shell is 5-6" long and I'm probably around 20-40 years old, which is not old at all for a box turtle. I could live another 20-50 years. I'm for adoption because life happens and my person couldn't care for me any more.

I've been living indoors for the last 3 years. I was found missing a hind foot, so I don't get around quite as well as other box turtles.

For this winter a large Rubbermaid tote would be OK for my enclosure. For my indoor winter pen, or if I'm indoors permanently, a "turtle table" would be a good home, and it should at least 8 square feet of space, along with a substrate such as aged hardwood bark mulch, a water pan, artificial plants for hiding, and a heat light and UVB light over one end. Visit matts-turtles.org or e-mail matts_adoptions@hotmail.com to see ideas for temporary housing. This link shows you how to make an inexpensive indoor habitat from a book case. http://nebula.wsimg.com/53c57892d611153a60ef8bde1be11925?AccessKeyId=A3E784782F81D21389AD&disposition=0&alloworigin=1

A backyard pen should be screened in completely to keep out rats and raccoons. It should have lots of room for exploring and digging and soaking in a water pan or shallow pond designed just for box turtles.

To learn more about box turtles, visit http://www.boxturtlesite.org/ or pick up a copy of Box Turtles by Tess Cook, available in some pet stores or on-line. To find instructions for a simple backyard box turtle enclosure, visit http://www.billsboxturtles.com

I am eating the diet recommended here, but my foster family uses Mazuri or Zoo Med Growth Formula aquatic turtle food as the base of the diet (always soaked in water until soft, of course): http://www.boxturtlefacts.org/Feeding_North_American_Box_Turtles.pdf
I love earthworms, berries, and plain baked sweet potato, but I need variety in my diet to stay healthy. I'm a little under weight but I'm healthy.

There's a $30 adoption fee. Local adopters pick up by appointment in Baltimore, Towson, or Parkton, MD. Our turtles come with a no sale/no trade adoption contract, and the edge of the shell is notched for easy visual ID.

TO REQUEST AN APPLICATION, E-MAIL matts_adoptions@hotmail.com - make sure to indicate YOUR CITY AND STATE. Shipping is possible if the adopter pays for shipping, which could be $45-$110 depending on your location.

I CANNOT be adopted to VA, GA, WV, PA, or most points north of PA on the eastern shore due to regulations in those states, although you can have a box turtle in CT.

NY residents would need a special educational permit from the DEC to keep a box turtle.
Residents of NJ, IN, and OH require a permit for EBTs.

If you're in Maryland and I'm your only eastern box turtle, you don't need a permit. Maryland residents may require a permit IF they already have an eastern box turtle. You can adopt me in NJ, OH, and MD before getting your permit.

In NJ, since our adoption contract serves as a receipt, visit https://www.state.nj.us/dep/fgw/exotic_apps.htm

For MD (only if you will have more than one eastern box turtle), visit https://dnr.maryland.gov/wildlife/Pages/Licenses/captive.aspx

Like turtles but can't have one? Want to help?
1) You can share my profile on social media and share www.matts-turtles.org so people can take better care of their turtles and help wild turtles stay wild.
2) MATTS has educational fliers (photos) to share on social media if you email matts_adoptions@hotmail.com to request them. Or you can visit https://www.facebook.com/MATTSTurtles/
3) Share our "Monster You Made" video:
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=X_935eZl84k on social media.
4) MATTS also accepts tax-deductible donations at
MATTS, P.O. Box 341, Highland, MD 20777, or through PayPal using the yellow "Donate" tab http://www.matts-turtles.org/support.html

Rescue is funded by donations only, and we find homes for over 100 animals a year.

Thank you!