Is It Illegal To Keep A Box Turtle You Find In Your Yard In Arkansas?

I don't know if you have seen any box turtles in your yard but this time of year they are out and about. I found one in my backyard on Mother's Day which I thought was super cool for a pet mom like me.  

But I started to worry about him because he looked like he was about to head towards our driveway and next it would be onto the street. So I picked him up and moved him to the side of the house so he'd stay away from the road.

That's when I really wanted to know more about these wonderful creatures. How long do they live, where do they go in their travels, what to do when you find one and can you keep him as a pet in Arkansas or Texas?

Box turtles are the most common turtle in Arkansas. They're called box turtles because they seriously close up like a box to protect them from predators.

If you do see a box turtle it's best not to move them far from where you found him. The Arkansas Game and Fish Commission stated on their Facebook page, if you see a turtle on the road, move him to the other side of the road in the direction he was facing.

They live their entire lives in a small area (2 to 5 acres) and have a homing instinct and will try to return to their home range.

If you move them too far from their home they can get disoriented and spend the rest of their long lives (up to 50 to 80 years) wandering around to find their original home area.

The AGFC also says do not keep them as pets. They are protected and illegal to own that goes for Texas too.  If you try to make a box turtle a pet it will more than likely die because of its unique and complex nutritional needs. And do not paint their shells. It makes them more visible to predators.

Let's respect these amazing creatures and try our best to keep them out of harm's way. When you see one help it cross a street and feel blessed that you had the chance to see one in your neck of the woods.

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