THE WOOD TURTLE STOMP

WOOD TURTLE UNDER EXAMINATION BY
U.S. FISH AND WILDLIFE SERVICE
BIOLOGIST
(Photo courtesy of FWS)

Wood turtles are handsome reptiles that frequent both land and streams in parts of the northeast quadrant of the continental United States. The scutes on their shells have a radiating pattern similar to that of the rings on a tree stump, which is perhaps why they were named "wood." As with trees, the number of rings on a scute of a younger turtle will designate its age, although on older specimens, the pattern becomes too obscure for that purpose.

Herpetologists consider them perhaps the most intelligent of turtles. They have the ability to learn mazes just like a rat. In addition, they know that they can summon earthworms to the surface by methodically stomping the ground with their front feet--a trick known to fishermen who pound a metal rod into the ground to call worms up for their rendezvous with the bait bucket.

When I was a youth (many, many years ago) a girl gave me a wood turtle (I do not know where she got it, as they were not native to our part of the country). I let him roam in our large back yard which was surrounded by a stout five-foot high chain-link fence which had effectively contained several box turtles. The wood turtle quickly figured out that he could escape by climbing straight up the fence.

They have a strong homing instinct and, if displaced, will return impressive distances to their original location. Perhaps this is one reason why my pet insisted on climbing the fence instead of being happy where I had placed him.

Wood turtles have been observed engaging in homosexual liaisons. They are the only species of turtle to do so, although some tortoises also participate in this practice.

I know now that holding a wood turtle captive is a bad idea and probably even an illegal one. They are endangered throughout most of their range for a variety of reasons, including their removal from the gene pool by people keeping them as pets.