THE ORNATE BOX TURTLE

HABITAT

• Live in:
• Low land desert
• Scrubland
• Open plains
• And anywhere wet with low hanging bushes/shrubs

DIET

• Eat:
• Fungus
• Mushrooms
• Small insects
• Moss

FEATURES

• They are olive green to a brown color
• Have faint yellow markings with darker colors mixed in
• Limbs on the male may have red spots
• Females are spotted with yellow and have thinner tails
• They have four toes on each foot

NATURAL CONDITIONS

• Ornate box turtles can be over hunted by animal population
• They need a constant water source to live
• Are often crushed by cars
• Can have many parasitic diseases
• Turtles can be chopped to bits by lawn mowers ec.

LAWS OF PROTECTION

• No turtle can be bought out of state and taken to another
• No turtle can be brought out of the wild
• Punishment includes a 5,000 dollar fine
• They are an endangered species and protected by Nebraska state law
• Turtles have been brought into national parks to conserve the species

REPRODUCTION TIME!

• (This is where you guys say yay)
• Fun fact: females can lay eggs up to four years after a single mating
• Lay eggs from May through July
• Can live up to 100 years
• Hibernate from October through April

CONSERVATION EFFORTS

• Ornate box turtles need a constant water source to survive
• Water can become polluted which makes the habitat unlivable
• They have very unique needs that people have yet to understand
• Therefore the least we can do is help with what we do know about them
• If we are thrifty with our water, the turtles can live on in peace

MY WONDERFUL THOUGHTS

• Seeing that a lot of turtles are crushed by cars we can:
• Be more careful while driving
• Watch our weed-wakers
• Try not to put harmful chemicals in the environment
• Leave nature alone when you are done with it

CONCLUSION