Hello from Henry.

Henry David Thoreau was adopted by Nashville Wildlife Conservation Center after being deemed non-releasable at Walden’s Puddle. Our best guess is that he was taken in as a pet after someone’s dog attacked him. He was inappropriately kept as an aquatic turtle (he is a land turtle) and passed around for years. By the time he came to us, no one knew where he came from, and thus he could not be released. Eastern box turtles have a very small home range, and if they are taken out of it, they can spend the rest of their lives looking for their home. He also suffered shell and limb damage from improper husbandry. He now resides in a large enclosure, full of things to explore and dirt to dig in. He brings joy to students throughout Nashville and teaches them the importance of wildlife, and the importance of leaving them in their home.

Did you Know?

Box turtles get their name from their shell which has a hinge, enabling it to close completely, protecting the turtle from predators.

Popular!

They are the official reptile of three U.S. states: North Carolina, Tennessee, and Missouri.

Small but Mighty!

These little guys grow to only 22 centimeters long.  It’s hard to tell the males from the females, but one way is to look at their eyes. Most males have red or dark orange eyes, while the females have yellowish-brown eyes.

At Risk!

There are six subspecies of box turtles, living throughout the U.S. and Mexico. They were once widespread and considered common, but are now vulnerable to extinction due to habitat loss, getting run over by cars and being illegally collected for the pet trade.

Very Cool.

In hot weather, box turtles use saliva to keep their head and front legs cool.