Wood Turtle

Looks how to spot one

shell and skin

The upper shell (carapace) is greyish-brown to yellow, broad and low, with each scute raised into a pyramid-like ridge that gives a sculptured look. The bottom shell (plastron) is flat, yellow with black blotches, and lacks a hinge. The skin is mostly brown, but the legs and neck often show yellow, orange or reddish patches. Males are slightly larger, have a broader head, a longer thicker tail, and a concave plastron.13

Personality what they are like

Wood turtles are generally non-aggressive toward people and can become quite interactive and curious with their owners. They are active and alert, and many keepers find them trainable. However, they can be semi-aggressive toward other turtles, so housing multiple individuals requires careful management.51

Daily activity how busy a day looks

Wood turtles are diurnal and very active. They need plenty of space to roam, climb and explore. An indoor enclosure for a single adult should be at least 48 x 18 x 21 inches (122 x 46 x 53 cm), and larger is better. Outdoor housing during warm months is ideal, but the enclosure must have an overhang because they are excellent climbers. They also require a large water area for swimming and soaking.56

Grooming and care the hands-on bits

Water quality is very important; use a heavy-duty filter rated for twice the water volume. The substrate should be a mix of sand, rich soil and leaf litter to allow burrowing. Indoor enclosures need a moist mixture of peat and topsoil. Provide UVB lighting and a basking area. Clean the enclosure regularly to prevent shell and skin infections.5

Home where they are happiest

Wood turtles are semi-aquatic and need both a large water area and a dry land area. In the wild they live near meandering rivers and streams with sand or gravel beds, and they spend much of the active season in nearby forests, meadows and wetlands. In captivity, replicate this with a spacious enclosure that includes clean, filtered water, a basking spot, and a moist terrestrial area with sandy soil and leaf litter. They hibernate from about October to April if kept outdoors in suitable climates. Note: Wood turtles are a threatened species and are protected by law in many areas; it is illegal to remove them from the wild.517

Food basics what goes in the bowl

Wood turtles are omnivores. In the wild they eat berries, green plants, mushrooms, slugs, snails, worms, insects, amphibian larvae and carrion. In captivity, juveniles under 6 months should get half protein and half vegetables daily. From 6 to 12 months, give protein every other day and vegetables daily. Adults (over 1 year) should have 75% vegetables daily and 25% protein two or three times a week. Good protein sources include commercial turtle pellets, earthworms, crickets, snails and shrimp. Vegetables include dandelion greens, collard greens, kale, grated squash and sweet potato, and aquatic plants like duckweed.581

Company who they like around

Wood turtles are not highly social; they can be kept alone or in groups if space allows. However, they can be semi-aggressive toward other turtles, so a group needs a very large enclosure (at least 20 x 30 feet for four or more). They are interactive with human caretakers and enjoy exploring. Because they are a threatened species, they are protected by law in Canada and parts of the United States; always obtain captive-bred animals from reputable breeders and never take them from the wild.51

The story where it all began

Wood turtles have been kept as pets for many years because of their attractive appearance, terrestrial habits and calm nature around people. However, their popularity has contributed to population declines, and they are now listed as Threatened in Canada and are protected in several US states. Today, responsible keepers should only acquire captive-bred animals from licensed breeders. The species is also the focus of many conservation and research efforts.15

Recognised by the official bits

COSEWIC (Committee on the Status of Endangered Wildlife in Canada)

Listed as Threatened in Canada.1