The Lesson of 2 Baby Box Turtles

Two tiny Eastern Box Turtles in Lake Erie Nature & Science Center's rehab care are a great illustration of why you should never interfere with nature without calling an expert (like us) first. Last August, these cool little turtles that are smaller than a silver dollar, were “saved” by a well-meaning animal lover who thought they couldn’t survive outside in the Northeast Ohio winter. The problem is, they didn’t need “saving.” If they had been left in the wild, they would have gradually acclimated to the cooling temperatures. Now, after their long winter indoors in climate-controlled conditions, we need to wait until spring to let them go.
We are heading into spring baby season, when many of you may stumble upon wild animal babies. Our advice is always to call before you touch! Often these babies are not orphaned and their mothers will return if left alone. Almost all baby birds found hopping around on the ground are simply “fledgling” birds that are supposed to be out of the nest but not yet flighted. If you’d like to know more about baby wildlife, download our flier on the topic.
-Amy LeMonds, Wildlife Rehabilitation Specialist