Bugs Turtle Box & Turtle Mix Florence, MS

Dan is an adult male *Gulf Coast Box Turtle who was hit by a car and suffered a traumatic break to his carapace on the left side. Part of the shell was missing, so he healed with a large gap. It is completely healed, but since it is open, he is prone to getting dirt stuck in there. He'll need that area cleaned regularly. His adoptive family will also need to make sure there's nothing in his enclosure he can get his shell edges caught on. If he were to get it caught on something, it could rip and cause further damage.

Bugs is healed, but has been displaced, meaning we do not know his point of origin. Since box turtles have high site fidelity, releasing him anywhere other than his home range would result in him wandering aimlessly, and likely into the path of danger. Since we don't know where his home range is, it is in his best interest to adopt to a qualified home rather than release him.

We do not charge an adoption fee and we do not sell any turtles. All potential adopters will be heavily screened. We are willing to ship, on a case-by-case basis - adopter pays all shipping costs. Any donation in addition to shipping fees is greatly appreciated and helps to offset the costs associated with that turtle's care and rehabilitation. If a turtle is to be shipped out of state, the adoption must also first be approved by the MS Department of Wildlife, Fisheries and Parks. Shipping is temperature-sensitive. Depending on where you live, we may not be able to ship to you during summer or winter. Absolutely no turtles will be shipped between Thanksgiving and Christmas, regardless of temperature.

Please be familiar with your state and local laws. We will not willingly or knowingly adopt any turtle where it is prohibited to do so by law. In Mississippi, you MUST possess a "valid Resident Sportsman's License, a Resident All Game Hunting and Freshwater Fishing License, a Small Game Hunting and Freshwater Fishing License, or a Non-Resident All Game Hunting License" to possess native turtles. Further, "no person shall possess more than a total of 20 nongame reptiles" and of that 20 "no more than four (4) can be of the same species or subspecies." Mississippi Code of 1972, Section 49-5-107.

Adoption application is available at the following web address: https://form.jotform.com/201966870328160
We will not consider adopters who do not submit an adoption application.

*Gulf Coast Box Turtles (Terrapene carolina major) differ in appearance from T. c. major in other areas due to historic long-term overlap of range and blending of subspecies (T. c. major, T. c. triunguis, and the now-extinct T. c. putnamii). They most often retain the larger size, coloration, and pattern, but rarely have the shape and widely flared marginals that one typically appreciates in this subspecies from other geographical areas.