Eastern Box Turtle

This American native is a beautiful turtle species. We have two through a Department of Natural Resources special purpose permit. In many states this is the only way they can be kept in captivity. Finally in 2004 it became illegal to collect them from the wild in our state. This helps to protect the wild populations from being depleted by the pet trade. The beautiful pattern and mild temperament makes the species a wonderful pet, but their natural charm endangered wild populations because they became very popular in the pet trade.

They can still be kept as pets in many states even with DNR permits, but they cannot be bought, sold, or bred in captivity in these states. If you live in a state where they cannot be bought or sold you can still obtain a pet Eastern Box Turtle from other states where they are legally bred in captivity. A vet check prior to shipment, proof of lawful obtainment and a DNR permit will be all you need. The DNR permit in our state is free of charge, updated yearly, and renewable every three years.

The native species should never be collected from the wild for pets. If an injured member of the native species is found in the wild you should contact your local DNR for the name of a licensed rehabilitator.

This is Sean. He’s one of our two American Eastern Box Turtles. Sean was a rescue turtle lawfully obtained from another state. He cannot be released due to DNR laws and the fact that he’s never lived in the wild and likely wouldn’t survive.

He’s one of our favorites, if not our most favorite, to work with in photography. He’s extremely active and outgoing. He always makes an interesting subject. Below are a few examples of Sean’s work. As with any of our models Sean can be found on a wide variety of apparel and other items at our Red Bubble shop. http://www.redbubble.com/people/luckytortoise/shop

Turtle: pro- 2nd Amendment

Turtle on the beach with pina colada

Turtle playing football

On the subject of native species: in a future blog entry we would like to feature the work of rehabilitators or organizations who are helping to care for our living natural treasures. If you are doing work in this area, know of someone who is, or would like to promote an organization please contact us here or on our FaceBook page https://www.facebook.com/TheLuckyTortoise

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Welcome to The Lucky Tortoise!

If you like tortoises and turtles or just like looking at animal photos you’ve come to the right place. We like to promote turtles and tortoises as pets. Though they’re more like family members.

We ourselves have 5 tortoises and 2 turtles. One of our turtles has been with us for over 26 years.

Each of our turtles and tortoises have their own personality and charm. We like to show this off by photographing them and adding them into various situations. They’re very cooperative. Some even ham it up and pose.

Turtles and tortoises have enjoyed a longtime fame in the mythology and art of cultures around the world. In countries throughout Africa the turtle is the wisest of all creatures. In Japan it’s said that a turtles lives for 10,000 years. In ancient Greece it was a symbol of fertility. In China the tortoise is sacred and known for it’s power, longevity, and tenacity. Perhaps the most well known myth in our western culture comes from ancient Rome and Greece. We all love a story of the underdog obtaining victory over a loudmouthed braggart. Yes, it’s that beloved story of the race between the tortoise and the hare. The tortoise won due to his steadfastness. Maybe it had something to do with that tenacity they are said to possess in Chinese legend!

In this entry we’ll feature Karolyn. Karolyn is a Russian Tortoise with a slight Leucistic appearance. She came to us complete with name about four years ago by way of a very good family friend who had received her from a man who could no longer care for her. We have a habit of almost never being able to say no when someone needs a home. She enjoys a wide array of greens and vegetables. Her other two favorite things are burrowing and running. She’s a fast little gal! This is what inspired the featured photo in this entry.

If you like our work with turtles and tortoises and want to keep up with us and our new photos be sure to follow us, share us, like us here and on facebook. For those of you who want to show your love for turtles and tortoises check out our selections on cafe Press. All printed images over there are uploaded at 300 dpi, making our graphics clean, clear, and sharp.

Reply, post, comment. Have something you’d like to see our turtles do for photos? Write it in the comments and we may choose your idea next!