I was browsing (grazing?) another subject on this site, and saw a reference to a box turtle possibly snapping an anglers lure off. Thinking box turtles are terrestrial, I pulled up Wikipedia to confirm that. And found this interesting comment, from one of our esteemed "leaders"--

 

"In Virginia, bills to honor the eastern box turtle failed in 1999 and then in 2009. In opposition one legislator had asked why Virginia would make an official emblem of an animal that retreats into its shell when frightened."

 

Which led me to reflect on the fact that so many of us, with the government's official recommendation, and in many situations, insistence, have long since retreated into our shells, due to being "frightened". It seems the turtle had it going on, long before the rest of us.

Well, hope springs eternal, and hopefully, ice out is within 60 days. More or less. I can leave my shell at that point.

you gotta wonder if your legislators can't find more important things to do

 

had a big one show up in my back yard one day, and had a cup of food my cat refused to eat.  

 

the turtle liked it

 

 

Just an FYI. That’s is not a box turtle, of which I have seen many over my decades living in Maryland. That is a Texas tortoise. Which is actually pretty cool as it’s listed as a threatened species in Texas. 

We had this female box turtle lay eggs in our front garden in MD just before we moved to Texas. 
 

 

Weeks later they hatched. Most left before we noticed but we did see this one baby box turtle. 
 

 

I like turtles, but the ponds I fish here are loaded with them. Getting a hook out of one is a real mofo. 

3 hours ago, BrianMDTX said:

Just an FYI. That’s is not a box turtle, of which I have seen many over my decades living in Maryland. That is a Texas tortoise. Which is actually pretty cool as it’s listed as a threatened species in Texas. 

We had this female box turtle lay eggs in our front garden in MD just before we moved to Texas. 
 

 

 

Weeks later they hatched. Most left before we noticed but we did see this one baby box turtle. 
 

 

 

I like turtles, but the ponds I fish here are loaded with them. Getting a hook out of one is a real mofo. 

That is the thing which sparked my original curiosity---Box Turtles are not an aquatic species, are they? Granted, I have only seen one in the wild, and certainly no turtle expert,  but it is my understanding they are completely terrestrial. We have Painted turtles locally, which are aquatic, but zero Box Turtles.

13 minutes ago, Whatever said:

That is the thing which sparked my original curiosity---Box Turtles are not an aquatic species, are they? Granted, I have only seen one in the wild, and certainly no turtle expert,  but it is my understanding they are completely terrestrial. We have Painted turtles locally, which are aquatic, but zero Box Turtles.

Yes, box turtles are a terrestrial species. Even growing up in Baltimore (not downtown but still within city limits) we used to find box turtles all the time when I was a kid.