Wood Turtles

We've been getting a large number of questions about turtle care via e-mail. Although we enjoy hearing from you, it's been difficult to keep up with the high volume of messages. Fortunately, most of the information you need is already available online. After perusing this page for the basics, please read our wood turtle care sheet for detailed care and feeding information. Another great source of information is WoodTurtle.com, which provides a fine selection of links (including a forum) on its Wood Turtle Care page.

 About wood turtles

Wood turtles (Glyptemys insculpta) are native to the Northeastern and Midwestern United States and are found in a variety of habitats -- woods, meadows, streams, and bogs. They were somewhat common several decades ago, but are now very scarce due to destruction of habitat, and are now found only in scattered locations. Wild wood turtles are now protected in every state in which they are found.

Wood turtles have a sculptured shell (hence the species name insculpta) that grows to 8 inches long. Half their time is spent in water and half on land. They hibernate in the wild, but generally don't hibernate in captivity. Long considered the most intelligent of turtles, wood turtles have a lot of personality and make outstanding long-term pets (life span to 60+ years).

Our long-term colony (10+ years) consists of legal adults raised outdoors in a natural environment.

  Taking care of hatchlings

Hatchlings and juveniles do well in a terrarium-type indoor setting at approximately 70-75 degrees. Once they reach near-adult or adult size (7-8+ years), they are happier in a small pen. Care and feeding are generally easy. See our care sheet for details. For comprehensive information on wood turtles, see WoodTurtle.com.

  Scenes from the turtle pen

Turtle pen, covered with netting and surrounded by a low-voltage
electric fence to keep predators out.  (magnify)

The turtle pen includes a pond for swimming and hibernation.
(magnify)

Three turtles laying eggs in June. We provided a sandy loam
that they like to dig in.  (magnify)

A turtle hatching in late August  (magnify)

A hatchling checking out its surroundings  (magnify)

A day-old hatchling, only about an inch long  (magnify)