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Box turtles are a common species of terrestrial turtle that are prevalent throughout North America with six subspecies. One of the six subspecies, the Eastern box turtle, has a range that spans the entirety of the east coast: from Maine to Florida and as far west as the Great Lakes in Michigan, (source: Eastern box turtle). As depicted in the photo, Eastern box turtles (Terrapene carolina carolina) have a recognizable dome-shaped shell that is patterned with yellow and brown splotches. In addition to a patterned shell, Eastern box turtles have orange scales on their legs and neck that are beneficial in camouflaging among detritus in the forest. Eastern box turtles also have a noticeable hooked upper jaw with a significant overbite. Eastern box turtles are opportunistic omnivores. Generally, they are carnivorous at a young age and feed on Earthworms and other invertebrates, but switch to a more herbivorous diet by the time they reach maturity, (source: Eastern box turtle). Female Eastern box turtles are generally distinguished from males by their orange irises (as seen in the photo) and flat or slight conex under-shells (plastons) (source: Box Turtle) The conservation status of these turtles is marked at ‘vulnerable’ as a result of loss of their habitat due to suburban development and their popularity in foriegn markets, (source: Eastern box turtle).
This particular turtle specimen (a female Eastern box turtle) was spotted in Aspinwall, Pennsylvania, which is a suburban neighborhood located eight miles outside of the city of Pittsburgh. Aspinwall is situated in close proximity to the Allegheny river and boasts a new riverfront park with reclaimed “greenspace.” When I captured this photo, the turtle was located in a grassy area bordering an asphalt parking lot. Due to the close proximity of the river, it is likely that the soil was a mixture of sand loam and other detritus material, (source: Soil) . Eastern box turtles typically mate between May and October and create 4 inch deep nests to lay eggs (between one and eleven eggs per nest) in sunny sites (source: Box Turtle). It is plausible that this female turtle may have been seeking a site to nest and was left undisturbed as the area was safe from any imminent danger.