Yesterday, I noticed a Box Turtle (I think that's what it was) next to one
of my raised beds. Actually, I nearly stepped on the poor guy, because I
wasn't expecting any surprises there!

The turtle seems to be missing one of its front legs. I don't know how this
affects its ability to move around, it's apparent that the turtle uses its
front legs to pull off pieces of food to eat -- when I put down a few
slices of melon, it used one front foot to hold down the melon while pulling
pieces off.

Anybody have any suggestions what I should do -- if anything -- to help
this turtle out? I say "if anything" because I'd hate to see the turtle
become dependent upon my putting down food for it under the hedge. I'm not
going to put it in a cage, nor am I going to relocate it if I can help it,
because right now it's safe from my own dogs (and other dogs), and there are
lots of places for it to find cover.

Thanks,

Anne Lurie
NE Raleigh

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919-387-1662 is the phone number for Wildlife Welfare in Raleigh. 
They can give you some information.  Your instinct about not relocating
him is probably good.  I know the Wildlife Centers always try to take
injured turtles back to where they were found.
pAnne Lurie wrote:
blockquote TYPE=CITEYesterday, I noticed a Box Turtle (I think that's
what it was) next to one
brof my raised beds.  Actually, I nearly stepped on the poor guy,
because I
brwasn't expecting any surprises there!
pThe turtle seems to be missing one of its front legs.  I don't
know how this
braffects its ability to move around, it's apparent that the turtle uses
its
brfront legs to pull off pieces of food to eat  --  when I
put down a few
brslices of melon, it used one front foot to hold down the melon while
pulling
brpieces off.
pAnybody have any suggestions what I should do  --  if anything 
--  to help
brthis turtle out?  I say "if anything" because I'd hate to see
the turtle
brbecome dependent upon my putting down food for it under the hedge. 
I'm not
brgoing to put it in a cage, nor am I going to relocate it if I can help
it,
brbecause right now it's safe from my own dogs (and other dogs), and
there are
brlots of places for it to find cover.
pThanks,
pAnne Lurie
brNE Raleigh/blockquote
/html

Yesterday, I noticed a Box Turtle ...

Lately I've found some almost-ripe tomatoes half eaten and suspected the
guilty party was some kind of rodent. Today I came face to face with the
perpetrator and it was a fine looking box turtle. I like turtles so I let
it stay... and eat...

Daniel B. Martin