It's that time! I found this lil thing along w/4 others yesterday, they were crossing a busy logging road; guess their habitat was destroyed and they were moving on-one of the many effects of clear cutting. I put on a pair of gloves; scooped them all up and set them free.

aww how cute ! Good job!

It's that time! I found this lil thing along w/4 others yesterday, they were crossing a busy logging road; guess their habitat was destroyed and they were moving on-one of the many effects of clear cutting. I put on a pair of gloves; scooped them all up and set them free.

God bless you Lilypad!!! While not endangered, box turtles are on the short stick due to what you said; habitat loss!!! Not to mention people kidnapping/ taking them as pets!

Job Well Done!!! :buddies:

Yep! Cute! We always have them around our yard.....just scooped 2 up before the storm...brought them in and put them right back where they were after rain stopped. Where they hide out is a "baby box turtle flood zone" LOL

nice to see people helping turtles!

Yep! Cute! We always have them around our yard.....just scooped 2 up before the storm...brought them in and put them right back where they were after rain stopped. Where they hide out is a "baby box turtle flood zone" LOL

nice to see people helping turtles!
Thanx!
Last year I moved 32 turtles out of the roads; snappers, box and sliders. Thank God I live in the country otherwise I probably would have been run over. :jameo:
I went on a bug hunt for the babies before I set them free-hungry lil suckers...they ate 2 earthworms, a slug and some sort of black beetle.:drool:

Thanx!
Last year I moved 32 turtles out of the roads; snappers, box and sliders. Thank God I live in the country otherwise I probably would have been run over. :jameo:
I went on a bug hunt for the babies before I set them free-hungry lil suckers...they ate 2 earthworms, a slug and some sort of black beetle.:drool:

Gonna have to rename you to Turtle Lady!!! LOL
Keep a small container of meal worms in your fridge..they are yummy and many critters will snatch them right up!!

Gonna have to rename you to Turtle Lady!!! LOL
Keep a small container of meal worms in your fridge..they are yummy and many critters will snatch them right up!!
they also like vegitation!! As well as moistened Dry Dog Food!

a slug? really? ewww :barf:

a slug? really? ewww :barf:

I didn't watch, but there were remnants of slimy, silver stuff around the turtle's mouth...:yikes:.

a slug? really? ewww :barf:

Slugs have a lot of protein AND fluids that keeps the turtles hydrated!!!

"Predators of slugs:

Predators of slugs include: Ground beetles (particularly carabid beetles), turtles, toads, frogs, lizards, rove beetles, salamanders, lightening bug larvae, turtles and garter snakes.

Birds: Rhode Island Red hens are great slug hunters, they get virtually all slugs and snails they can find. A big plus is no crowing from hens!
Other slug hunters include blackbirds, crows, ducks, jays, owls, robins, seagulls, starlings and thrushes,The appeal factor to all these creatures is due the fact that slugs are pure protein. "

awww I want one!!!

awww I want one!!!

No you don't. They are nasty and carry diseases. :dead:

No you don't. They are nasty and carry diseases. :dead:

So they are like kids then :lol:

I saw our first one last week, had to stop and rescue him out of the road.
We have several that live on our property, and have named most of them. We can usually tell them apart by their battlescars. One we call "Nubby" because he's missing a front leg, another who is just "Turtle" and has about an inch long crack in the front of her top shell, another is "shy guy" because he always hides in his shell as soon as he sees us (although last year he was not quite as shy as prior years), and "big boy" who is a very large male with deep red eyes. We have a few young ones around as well but they are hard to tell apart so they have no names. ;)

I love turtles!

So they are like kids then :lol:

No...there are MILLIONS of kids and only a few hundred box turtles.
We need more turtles and a whole lot LESS kids!!!:killingme

No...there are MILLIONS of kids and only a few hundred box turtles.
We need more turtles and a whole lot LESS kids!!!:killingme

few hundred? :eyebrow:

few hundred? :eyebrow:

Yup....:coffee:

few hundred? :eyebrow:

Keep in mind that she was the wildlife expert who claimed that raccoons don't wash their food, okay? So that should give you a frame of reference to judge anything else she might say. I don't have time to find references online to try to estimate the number of box turtles, but I am pretty sure the number exceeds a few hundred :eyebrow: .

Let me apologize in advance for how harsh I was on her that day (raccoon reference), but I was very annoyed. Now I know to not let the imaginary people in head take over lol

http://forums.somd.com/pets-animals/243252-so-heres-dumb-thing-i-did-4.html#post4789604

Keep in mind that she was the wildlife expert who claimed that raccoons don't wash their food, okay? So that should give you a frame of reference to judge anything else she might say. I don't have time to find references online to try to estimate the number of box turtles, but I am pretty sure the number exceeds a few hundred :eyebrow: .

Let me apologize in advance for how harsh I was on her that day (raccoon reference), but I was very annoyed. Now I know to not let the imaginary people in head take over lol

http://forums.somd.com/pets-animals/243252-so-heres-dumb-thing-i-did-4.html#post4789604

Wrong Arky, raccoons do not wash their food.


I really wish you would go and Google this info instead of making me do it for you. You would learn something and not have to deal with me..again.

I would show the pics of my babies "washing" rocks..but why waste the film?

Here ya go Lisa:
The behavior you filmed is also called "dabbling" or daubing".
Raccoons have many nerve ending in their paws as we do in our hands, making them more sensitive.
Raccoons sight is not the best, esp at night , in the dark.
Raccoons dont go sticking their heads underwater looking for food.
Raccoons evolved in areas of marsh, creeks, streams, rivers, and coastal areas where their found their favorite foods: clams, crayfish, turtles, frogs.
They walk into the shallows and feel the ground for these items.
The water makes their hands MORE sensitive to shapes and easier to find food!.
They can "see" what they feel underwater, and do very well at it.

They do not wash they food...what you are seeing in you video is due to instinct.
They are "feeling" the food the are about to eat.

Baby raccoons are very tactile..they have to touch everything! The pads on their feet are softer than a cats and again, more sensitive to touch.
They will take toys and demonstrate the same behavior as "washing", they are just getting more information as to what their world looks like.
Give a baby raccoon a basin of water and all sorts of stuff..and it ALL goes into the water. Not to wash or eat, but to explore.

But if you dont believe me, ask yourself this:
What do raccoons do if there is no water?
Go hungry?
Carry a bag of food back to a creek and wash it?
Bring bottled water with them?

Thanks for the comments, video and giving me an chance to help others learn and dispel the "food washing" myth!.

Even better, go Google and see what you learn. Enter "raccoon washing behavior".

Speaking of hand washing, anyone handling turtles should wash their hands afterwards!:howdy:

It's that time! I found this lil thing along w/4 others yesterday, they were crossing a busy logging road; guess their habitat was destroyed and they were moving on-one of the many effects of clear cutting. I put on a pair of gloves; scooped them all up and set them free.

Never handle any wildlife (animals, reptiles, etc..) without gloves or a barrier protection.

I see that loony tunes is posting again to defend herself? Whateva ......

see what you did Hank? YOU started this up again .... :jerry:

I see that loony tunes is posting again to defend herself? Whateva ......

see what you did Hank? YOU started this up again .... :jerry:

:coffee:
Hummm...Says here "it takes one to know one".

:coffee:
Hummm...Says here "it takes one to know one".

Can you try even harder to be juvenile and show your lack of maturity? try harder please ......

Can you try even harder to be juvenile and show your lack of maturity? try harder please ......

Dont need to, as you are doing a fine job of it all by yourself.

sticks and stones may ....... :lalala:

hmmm.... :coffee:

"Thousands of box turtles are collected from the wild every year for the domestic pet trade, primarily from South Carolina, the only remaining state where they can legally be captured from the wild and sold for profit."

hmmm.... :coffee:

"Thousands of box turtles are collected from the wild every year for the domestic pet trade, primarily from South Carolina, the only remaining state where they can legally be captured from the wild and sold for profit."

"Turtle populations are in danger in other states (including Maryland) because of pesticides and people taking them out of the wild for pets." (http://www.fcps.edu/islandcreekes/ecology/eastern_box_turtle.htm)

"Children frequently want turtles as pets and despite warnings, parents will usually cater to their children's demands, thus keeping a turtle in a tiny terrarium - keeping yet another healthy turtle from breeding and increasing the population." (http://www.wildlifewatchers.org/esReports/report30.html)

In Maryland, for example, it is illegal to sell box turtles in pet stores and Maryland officials periodically will "raid" local pet stores to make sure that the owners are following the law. This has cut down on the amount of box turtles sold illegally in Maryland pet stores, but many others are just taken out of the wild and kept as pets for children. (http://www.wildlifewatchers.org/esReports/report30.html)

From DNR, Md.

"Turtles As Pets
Many reptiles are sold as pets, which in combination with destruction of habitat, has caused a serious decline in many species around the world. In Maryland, it is illegal to sell turtles as pets if they are caught from the wild. You can help save reptile populations by being very knowledgeable about any reptile you purchase and only purchase from reputable dealers. Under no circumstances should you ever release captive turtles into the wild as they can spread diseases like ranavirus to wild turtles." (http://www.dnr.state.md.us/wildlife/Habitat/WildAcres/waturtles.asp)


As long as there is a "created demand" there will be a group of people. who will "supply" and profit, despite the overall, generational consequences.

Just because SC does it, does not make it the right thing to do.:howdy:

Wrong Arky, raccoons do not wash their food.



I think you're getting hung up on words. Raccoons do wash/rinse/wet their food for a number of reasons. In fact, their scientific name means "washing bear." So, you're both right.

"Turtle populations are in danger in other states (including Maryland) because of pesticides and people taking them out of the wild for pets." (http://www.fcps.edu/islandcreekes/ecology/eastern_box_turtle.htm)

"Children frequently want turtles as pets and despite warnings, parents will usually cater to their children's demands, thus keeping a turtle in a tiny terrarium - keeping yet another healthy turtle from breeding and increasing the population." (http://www.wildlifewatchers.org/esReports/report30.html)

In Maryland, for example, it is illegal to sell box turtles in pet stores and Maryland officials periodically will "raid" local pet stores to make sure that the owners are following the law. This has cut down on the amount of box turtles sold illegally in Maryland pet stores, but many others are just taken out of the wild and kept as pets for children. (http://www.wildlifewatchers.org/esReports/report30.html)

From DNR, Md.

"Turtles As Pets
Many reptiles are sold as pets, which in combination with destruction of habitat, has caused a serious decline in many species around the world. In Maryland, it is illegal to sell turtles as pets if they are caught from the wild. You can help save reptile populations by being very knowledgeable about any reptile you purchase and only purchase from reputable dealers. Under no circumstances should you ever release captive turtles into the wild as they can spread diseases like ranavirus to wild turtles." (http://www.dnr.state.md.us/wildlife/Habitat/WildAcres/waturtles.asp)


As long as there is a "created demand" there will be a group of people. who will "supply" and profit, despite the overall, generational consequences.

Just because SC does it, does not make it the right thing to do.:howdy:

Where does it say there were only hundreds in existence? :confused: And they were talking the whole eastern corridor, but primarily South Carolina as far as the thousands that are caught...

I think you're getting hung up on words. Raccoons do wash/rinse/wet their food for a number of reasons. In fact, their scientific name means "washing bear." So, you're both right.

No. Arky is of the belief that they wash their food prior to eating to clean it, as demonstrated in the video she posted.

They don't wash as in to clean, to remove dirt, to clean it before eating!
.
It is a behavior that enhances the sensitivity of the feet to better identify the object they are holding.

I have seen them wash toys, keys, rocks, shells, bottles, etc...all items that can not be eaten!

I have seen raccoons eat food, chicken, fish, crabs, fruit, cookies, and NEVER once get that food close to the pool of water!
Even though the bowl of water was right there near the food!

Give a raccoon a plastic pool of water with NOTHING in it..and they will gladly play in the water for the pure joy of playing in the water!

If you have not seen and experienced that behavior, I am afraid I can not explain it to you to have you understand the joy and interest they have with water.

Having raised orphaned raccoons from infant to young adult ( 5-6 months) to release back to the wild. I know this behavior as I have seen it first hand.
It is not a food or hygiene based behavior.

Where does it say there were only hundreds in existence? :confused: And they were talking the whole eastern corridor, but primarily South Carolina as far as the thousands that are caught...

Hank you are so anal.

The point I was trying to make is that the population is in decline.
From a gazillion to a billion to a million..anyway you look at it, the population is in decline.

Hundreds vs thousands...the population here in Maryland is dropping.
No, I can not give you an EXACT number and you cant find one either!

Hank you are so anal.

The point I was trying to make is that the population is in decline.
From a gazillion to a billion to a million..anyway you look at it, the population is in decline.

Hundreds vs thousands...the population here in Maryland is dropping.
No, I can not give you an EXACT number and you cant find one either!

Oh.... I'm anal..... too funny! :killingme

:potmeetkettle:

It is not a food or hygiene based behavior.
They are still wetting/washing/watering their food (and objects). If they are wetting their food, it's to see if it may be hazardous. So, technically it would be a "food behavior."

They are still wetting/washing/watering their food (and objects). If they are wetting their food, it's to see if it may be hazardous. So, technically it would be a "food behavior."

Whatever...I will write,, "You are right"! if it makes you feel better.

I really don't care what you think..I really don't! :1bdz:

hmmm....:coffee:


"Raccoons dunk and soak their food in water if water is available---making it appear as if they are washing it. However, if they are not near a body of water, they handle their food with the same motions."

Read more: Why Do Raccoons Wash Their Food? | eHow.com Why Do Raccoons Wash Their Food? | eHow.com (http://www.ehow.com/how-does_5192009_do-raccoons-wash-food_.html#ixzz1tkhEx9Hk)

There are several theories about why raccoons often "wash" their food before eating it. The most prevalent is that the "cleaning" ritual is more related to raccoons' highly developed sense of touch. However, the definite answer is still known only to the raccoon.


:dye:

Regardless the reason, they still wash their food if near water.... Just like some opossums get rabies... :popcorn: