Shadow, the dog of camp’s outdoor education assistant staff, found these 4 box turtles near the meadow. Three of them were together with 2 males fighting over a female. This is the most eastern box turtles that I’ve ever seen in the wild in one place.
While I’m doing some team building activities with a group of 5th graders from Prairie View Elementary from Goshen Indiana, one student finds this baby eastern box turtle. These creatures can live to be over a 100 years old. I’ve never seen one this small.
Here’s an eastern box turtle that we found during nature camp. They have great camouflage for walking on the forest floor in the sunlight.
IMG_1322, originally uploaded by Camp Naturalist.
As I’m walking home from work I see this Blanding’s turtle in the middle of the trail. What a beautiful creature!
IMG_1206, originally uploaded by Camp Naturalist.
As I am returning from a walk around the peninsula, I see a truck stop a few hundred yards ahead. I get up to that spot and find this male box turtle. They were stopping to help this species of special concern get across the road. It’s nice to see that people care enough to help when they can!
IMG_9236, originally uploaded by Camp Naturalist.
This little guy is only 1 inch long. Must have just hatched. It was floating in the water near main beach on Lake Shavehead after a group of kids had just finished with canoe instruction.
Blanding’s Turtle on Hickory Trail Back of Shell, originally uploaded by Camp Naturalist.
I’m walking to work around 7:30am and I spy this blanding’s turtle on hickory trail. I believe blanding’s are a species of special concern here in Michigan.
Eastern Box Turtle, originally uploaded by Camp Naturalist.
I don’t usually find that many turtles on turtle hill, but this one is just calmly staying in place as I take a Sunday afternoon stroll. There’s so much pattern variation is turtle shells.
Originally uploaded by Camp Naturalist.
I hear some comotion as I’m walking on Marsh trail. I find these two eastern box turtles mating. The male has so much more yellow than the female. I don’t think this is always true.
Originally uploaded by Camp Naturalist.
Found this map turtle on a canoe trip to Long Lake here in Cass county Michigan.
Camp Naturalist 