The North American Wood Turtle: Glyptemys insculpta, could be the most intelligent of all turtles!

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Old Red Legs

Beautiful Wood Turtle photos

North American Wood Turtles are protected throughout their range requiring a proper state permit in ME, NH, VT, MA, RI, CT, NY, NJ, DE, MD, VA, WV, PA, OH, MI

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WOOD TURTLE STOMP

The North American Wood Turtle could be the most intelligent of all turtles?

Wood Turtles have been attributed a high intelligence (among turtles). Tinklepaugh, 1932 found in a laboratory study that Wood Turtles could learn to navigate mazes with the ability of rats in similar situations, and they demonstrate behaviors which can be interpreted by some as signs of intelligence. Perhaps because their behavioral adaptations permit them to easily survive in aquatic habitats and wooded terrestrial habitats they seem more intelligent to an observer than other turtle species that live in less variable habitats or perhaps their intelligence allows them to better adapt - the answer is no doubt in the eye of the observer.

The Turtle Tour (and more...giant moths, EBTs, possums! )

Kids' Inquiry of Diverse Species

Where to get captive bred high yellow Wood Turtles

The Wood Turtle Stomp

Care, Clubs, Rescue, and Adoptions

• TurtleForum.com
• California Turtle & Tortoise Club
• Mid-Atlantic Turtle & Tortoise Society
• The Turtle Ranch
• Breeding Turtles
• Indiana Turtle Care
• Turtle Homes
• Tortoise Reserve
• Tortoise Trust
• World Chelonian Trust

Wood Turtle Pages

• Michigan State University
• World Chelonian Trust
• Arkive
• Wikipedia

♦Wood Turtle Breeders Registry♦

Worm Grunting

Wood Turtles seem to have discovered grunting for worms long before humans discovered it.

In the Florida Apalachicola National Forest, around 700 permits (at $30 each) are issued to earthworm grunters every year !

Watch this video to the right and you'll see how the "pros" grunt for worms.

RARE Hypo Pastel North American Wood Turtle

This eye popping turtle hatched from a clutch of 7 eggs on July 10 th 2008. (See next two photos for comparison.)

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Sex:

The difference between a male and female wood turtle can easily be distinguished. Males are usually larger with a concave plastron and a much longer and thicker tail, whereas the female will have a flat plastron and shorter and thinner tail. There is usually no difference in coloration between the two with exception to some slight discolorations in their eyes. Males are usually 7.5 to 9 inches in length and females are usually 7 to 8.25 inches.

Railroad tracks - a death sentence for turtles

• Grad Student's Fellowship Will Help Protect Future Generations of Wood Turtles | Big Ideas Blog
  SUNY Oneonta biology graduate student Alexandra Vlk was selected to receive the Hudson River Foundation Graduate Fellowship to support her work studying mating and nesting habits of an endangered turtle species.
• Farmers offered financial carrot to help save threatened wood turtle - Nova Scotia - CBC News
  The Nova Scotia program aims to limit the number of wood turtles badly injured or killed by farm machinery, especially in hayfields, by providing a financial incentive to farmers to change their mowing practices.

Besides RR tracks turtles face other man made perils

One of the most common causes of injury and death among wood turtles are lawnmowers. Meet Sahara the two legged wood turtle.

Presentation on the American Wood Turtle

Grad Student’s Fellowship Will Help Protect Future Generations of Wood Turtles

Better Farming Practices - Wood Turtle

Whenever I think about wood turtles I remember when...

I was out walking one day down a road to an area I was told I could observe some wood turtles in the wild and this pig with a wooden leg ran across the road in front of me and on up to this pig farmer's house. Curious, I walked up to the pig farmer and asked him about that pig I saw with the wooden leg. He replied "Yessir!... that there is 'China', our very special pig." He went on to explain how he and his family were asleep one night when a fire started in the house and "China" the pig came in the front door, ran upstairs squealing and woke them all up! He said "Yessir, "China" saved all our lives and the house too - he's somethin' special, one special pig he is!."

I said "Well that's amazing but it doesn't explain to me why he has a wooden leg."

He said "Well shoot, you cain't just eat a special pig like that...'least not all at once."

Speaking of wooden legs

Did you know in the old west they never hung a man with a wooden leg?

Nope, they usually used a rope.

More little known facts about a couple unique species!

• What you should know about Eastern Box Turtles: Terrapene carolina carolina
  "Box Turtles? You mean tarpins, 'swhat we call 'em, and yeah, we seen 'em all the time!" Most read this only to realize they know NOTHING about these amazing little GEMS of the woods!
• The "uncommon" Common Snapping Turtles: Chelydra serpentina serpentina
  Uncommon, unbelievable and expensive morphs of the common snapping turtle and other interesting snapping turtle facts like how to help them cross a road and turtle soup.
• "Paw, why do the little box turtles try to cross the road? Can we help them?"
  Why conventional wisdom about these unique little box turtles can be just wrong! We need more wildlife "experts" that really want to deal with the problem rather than telling politicians what they want to hear.

Comments

The Logician (author) from now on on February 05, 2016:

When editing or creating a hub page just select a picture capsule, select thumbnail style (on left) and add as many pics as you want to the capsule.

Wesman Todd Shaw from Kaufman, Texas on February 05, 2016:

I've no clue how you did that thing you did when you did it or now either. You know, that thing you did with all those images and clicking the thumbnails, etc.

I suspect witchcraft.

Deb Hirt from Stillwater, OK on October 25, 2015:

There are a few species around here in OK. I recently got a nice pic of the common snapping turtle. I wasn't aware of the wood turtle, so thanks for the info.

peachy from Home Sweet Home on February 07, 2015:

well, i love the turtle shells, very creative patterns

The Logician (author) from now on on February 01, 2015:

Did you hear the one about the frog with the wooden leg? One day I was walking down this road near a fish farm and ...

Suzie from Carson City on February 01, 2015:

Ohhhhhhhhhh...moan......to get to the Shell Station. Tsad, that's it. I've read as much about turtles as I can possibly find room to store the info. They really are quite fascinating, I hate to admit. I like to keep my word. I said I'd read your turtle hubs.

Honestly, I need to settle down, buddy. This is just way too much fun for one afternoon.......LOL.....

These hubs must be super hot google sites!! UP+++

PADDYBOY60 from Centreville Michigan on May 13, 2012:

Lol. That there is a knee slapper! To get to the shell station, that's a good one.

The Logician (author) from now on on May 11, 2012:

Well they sure do that! Especially on a four lane..many turtles are attracted to reds and yellows and may think the yellow lines down the middle of the road are edible flowers but the real reason why the turtle crossed the road is pretty obvious .. to get to the Shell station. :-)

PADDYBOY60 from Centreville Michigan on May 11, 2012:

To tease the cars. Good hub. I love the turtles.

The Logician (author) from now on on June 19, 2011:

Well, no comments? Maybe this proverbial question with a twist will get the ball rolling...Why did the turtle cross the road?