Jasper E. Box Turtle Turtle Eastern Box Baltimore, MD

Update 2024: I've been adopted to a lovely home in Cherry Hill, NJ! MATTS may still have other turtles like me for adoption.

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

I'm an adult female eastern box turtle (Terrapene carolina carolina) who was for adoption in the Baltimore, Maryland, area. I'm about 5" long and probably 20-40 years old and could live another 20-40 years. I was for adoption because my person didn't have enough time for me. It looks like I either had a run in with a predator or was hit by a car or lawnmower a few years ago, but no one knows for certain. Either way, I'm healthy now but that part of my shell over my neck won't ever grow back. The white spot on the back of of my shell is a "bone scab" that will eventually fall off (and there's healthy new shell under there). One side of my head is a tiny bit misshapen because I had an ear abscess before being for adoption, but it healed a long time ago.

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, strawberries, and plain baked sweet potato, but I need variety in my diet to stay healthy.

Because part of my shell is missing over my head, it's best if I'm kept by myself or only with other female box turtles.

There's a $35 adoption fee. Local adopters pick up by appointment in the Baltimore, Timonium, 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 allowed if the adopter pays for shipping ($40-$125 depending on your zip code).

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. Maryland residents may require a permit IF they already have an eastern box turtle. If I'm your only eastern box turtle, then you don't need a permit in Maryland. 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? Share my profile to help me get adopted. You can chare the MATTS website so people can take the best care of their turtles, matts-turtles.org.
MATTS accepts tax-deductible donations at MATTS, P.O. Box 341, Highland, MD 20777, or through PayPal at http://www.matts-turtles.org/support.html.
Rescue is funded by donations only, and we find homes for about 100 animals a year.