Can you own a North American wood turtle?

North American wood turtles are highly protected in the states where they occur today. NJ is perhaps one of the only states (if not the only), that still allows the legal keeping of them in captivity through means of licenses or permits.

How big does a North American wood turtle get?

Wood turtles grow to between 14 and 20 centimeters (5.5 and 7.9 in) in straight carapace length, and reach a maximum of 23.4 centimeters (9.2 in).

Where are North American wood turtles found?

Clemmys insculpta (the American wood turtle) is a moderately sized (6 to 10 inch long upper shell, or “carapace”), semi-aquatic turtle that is found in deciduous woodland streams, wet meadows, and farmland habitats of roughly the northeastern quarter of the United States up into southern Ontario, Quebec, and Nova …

Do wood turtles make good pets?

Wood turtles are a lot of fun to keep and to raise, as they are for the most part very tame and friendly. The wood turtle (Clemmys insculpta) has been one of my favorites for years. This species is a lot of fun to keep and to raise, as they are for the most part very tame and friendly.

What do you do if you find a wood turtle?

Do not take turtles home. In many states wood turtles are a protected species. If you live next to a stream, provide as much forested buffer as possible. If you see a turtle in the road and can safely pull over, help the turtle across in the direction that it was going.

Do wood turtles need water?

Streams that wood turtles inhabit are usually small but at least 2 feet deep for hibernation. The captive habitat of this species can be either very simple or elaborate. There are a few simple requirements that should be met however. Adults need to have a water area that is 2 feet deep and stays under 70 degrees.

Do wood turtles swim?

They are highly aquatic, but rather poor swimmers. The water in a hatchling’s aquarium should be of a depth that allows the turtle to reach the surface with its head without needing to swim.

How much are wood turtles worth?

Using a standardized dollar value, they found that prices for an adult turtle ranged from about 20 dollars in the early 1960s to nearly 400 dollars in 2014.

Are wood turtles rare?

Status: Conservationists consider the wood turtle one of the most endangered freshwater turtles in North America. The loss of streamside forests to development threatens local populations, and many adults die when crossing roads between fragmented patches of suitable habitat.

Where do wood turtles live in the US?

You can find the North American Wood Turtle throughout the northeastern portion of the United States and all the way down to the northern part of Virginia, as well as north into southern Nova Scotia. This turtle’s range also extends northwest all the way to the eastern portion of Minnesota and the northeastern portion of Iowa.

What are the different types of wood turtles?

There are two wood turtles kept as pets and these include the North American wood turtle and the central American wood turtle. The North American wood turtle is usually referred to as the wood turtle. The central American wood turtle is also referred to as the ornate wood turtle, the Honduran wood turtle, or the painted wood turtle.

What does a North American wood turtle look like?

The North American Wood Turtle’s carapace will be brown to olive green in color. The plastron is typically brown or yellow, and it will feature dark colored splotches. The head and the limbs, on the other hand, will be dark brown or black with red, orange, or yellow colors coming from the underside of the limbs and neck.

What is a Central American wood turtle?

The central American wood turtle is also referred to as the ornate wood turtle, the Honduran wood turtle, or the painted wood turtle. Also known as the North American wood turtle, the wood turtle can be found in eastern Canada and northeastern America.