It was a mild morning after some overnight rain last week, and just a mile after making a turn, my friend and I spotted something in our travel lane. We both ID’d the object right away, and as suspected, it was a box turtle crossing the road. After checking that it was safe to do so, I ran out and grabbed the turtle and placed her off the road in the direction she was headed.

Another mile or so down the road, the scene was repeated with a male turtle resting on the double yellow line and again, placed off the road unharmed.

This is breeding time for many species of turtles, and many are crossing roads to get to nesting areas.

Box turtles are easy to spot if they are in the open. Their carapace (upper shell) is adorned with an array of random yellow markings, and each scute (segment of the shell) has its own pattern. The head and legs have yellow patterns and spots. These same spots help the turtle blend in with the leaf litter of a forest floor.

One of the most interesting things about the box turtle is that its plastron (lower part of the shell) is hinged and acts as a form of door to protect its head and forelegs if the turtle is threatened.

Box turtles are a species of special concern in both NY and PA; thus, it’s illegal to keep or otherwise disturb them if found in the wild. Many turtle species are in decline in the region due to a number of factors, including the illegal pet trade.

If you spot a box turtle, take a few snapshots (it might be shy and close its security door; stay still for a few minutes and it will pop its head back out for a photo-op), and leave this special creature to live out its life in the wild.