Ms. Gimp Turtle Box & Turtle Mix Florence, MS

Mr. Gimp is a young adult male *Gulf Coast Box Turtle was hit by a car in August 2020. He suffered some shell damage, and also lost both back legs. He gets around fine, but will need a monitored environment that doesn't require a lot of climbing or balancing. Since she doesn't have her back legs, she will need to be monitored for egg laying. Female turtles will lay eggs even if they are not fertile, and without back legs, she can't dig a nest. This could result in her becoming egg-bound. She will require yearly x-rays and monitoring to ensure she does not become egg bound. She also will need her plastron (bottom shell) monitored to ensure that she is not rubbing it raw. Dirt for substrate is fine, but no rocks or anything sharp.

Special note about female turtles: Most of the turtles at our Rescue were wild and have probably mated multiple times in the past. Box Turtles can retain genetic material and lay fertile eggs YEARS after mating. Therefore, any eggs this turtle lays in the next few years may actually be fertile. The eggs can simply be destroyed if you see the turtle has laid them; however, if the eggs are allowed to hatch, the adopter assumes all responsibility for any offspring. Offspring may not, under any circumstances, be released to the wild or sold for profit.

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 adopted, local or otherwise, between November 15 and January 15, 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.

READ OUR BOX TURTLE HABITAT GUIDELINES BEFORE INQUIRING OR APPLYING: https://www.centralmsturtlerescue.com/-box-turtle-habitat-guidelines.html

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.