Bruce Explains Box Turtles: Making an Exit

When you are blessed with snazzy orange cheek patches and stunning red eyes, you don’t worry about making an entrance. The entrance will make itself. Let’s say, for instance, that you are sitting on top of your hay pile. All of a sudden the paparazzi happens along carrying that annoying small rectangular flashing device. WeariedContinueContinue reading “Bruce Explains Box Turtles: Making an Exit”

Bruce Explains Box Turtles: Making Hay

When a boy turtle wakes up from his long winter hibernation, believe it or not, food is not the first thing on his mind. He is thinking about one thing and one thing only – finding a lady box turtle to make eggs with. While it can be a pretty big deal to a ladyContinueContinue reading “Bruce Explains Box Turtles: Making Hay”

Bruce Explains Box Turtles: Blueberries

Both shelled members of our little flock love blueberries. Perhaps it is the shape – so round, so soft, such a satisfying mouth-feel. Or maybe it is the overall “hunt-ability” (a technical term) – whereas a mango chunk or lettuce leaf will just lay there helplessly, the blueberry can be a wiley roly-poly adversary indeed!ContinueContinue reading “Bruce Explains Box Turtles: Blueberries”

Bruce Explains Box Turtles: Hunting

Having two shells from two different reptile species in our little family flock really brings up some interesting contrasts. Take dinnertime, for instance. Malti clearly prefers her dinner to stay still while she chows, and sometimes even sits down on top of it just to make sure. Bruce, on the other hand, has no problemContinueContinue reading “Bruce Explains Box Turtles: Hunting”

Bruce Explains Box Turtles: Waking UP!

Guess who is awake!!!!!! Yup, after another long winter’s sleep, the box turtle member of the flock has finally decided to put in an appearance! Two flock members were fairly un-moved….but the large featherless flock member was over the moon to see her boy again! This is the second year Bruce has been with us,ContinueContinue reading “Bruce Explains Box Turtles: Waking UP!”

Bruce Explains Box Turtles: Camouflage

Box turtles are amazing at camouflage. No matter how colorful they may appear to be (for example, Bruce has bright orange cheek patches set against a white face with black and brown accents), put them practically anywhere and watch them disappear. I can’t tell you how many times I have looked….and looked and looked andContinueContinue reading “Bruce Explains Box Turtles: Camouflage”

Bruce Explains Box Turtles: Digging

Too lightweight and streamlined to be a tortoise, yet too land-bound to be a true water turtle, box turtles have had to carve out their own niche in the world of shelled beings. As a result, they have developed into serious shelled athletes. Climbing? No problem. Swimming? Sure thing. Digging? Already on it. Digging can beContinueContinue reading “Bruce Explains Box Turtles: Digging”

Bruce Explains Box Turtles: Climbing

Living with two different shelled species is so interesting! They are so similar in so many ways, and yet so different in other ways. One thing both Bruce and Malti share in common is an instinct to climb. While both have been known to climb just because it seems possible, the number one motivation IContinueContinue reading “Bruce Explains Box Turtles: Climbing”

Bruce Explains Box Turtles: Vegetation

I was born in Houston, Texas. Although I have traveled quite a bit and have lived other places intermittently, for the majority of my years I have lived here. This is relevant because, in all the years I have lived here – until now – it has always been hot and humid. Generally speaking, weContinueContinue reading “Bruce Explains Box Turtles: Vegetation”

Bruce Explains Box Turtles: Timing Hibernation

In a previous post, we talked about hibernation, or brumation if it is a reptile like Bruce who is hibernating. Since then, Bruce and his mommy have fielded several questions about the timing of his annual hibernation. Most of the questions have focused on how we know (or how I know that Bruce knows) itContinueContinue reading “Bruce Explains Box Turtles: Timing Hibernation”