Since February, we’ve noticed a Florida Box Turtle roaming the yard. Over the past few weeks, she’s been omnipresent and not exactly camera-shy, posing for great close-ups:
Whoa!!! Those “hands” have some serious claws!!
The bones in a Box Turtle’s front limbs are similar to a human hand, with 4 fingers and a thumb!
Here she is yesterday, setting off on an excursion:
Note the scraped carapace: evidence of prior confrontations, perhaps?
Although I’m not certain, I think “our” turtle is carrying eggs! She’s been spending most of her time circling this spot in the sideyard and using her hind legs as excavators:
Could this be a turtle nest?
A few days ago, this site was better obscured, but my landscaper cut the lawn and trimmed the hedges today, leaving it very exposed. Poor little eggs may not last very long. 😦
Her body language said, “Go Away!!” 😉
If I see any hatchlings, I’ll let you know…..we can join the mother in a happy dance!!
- Weekly Challenge: Hands (atreegrowsinbklyn.wordpress.com)
- Weekly Photo Challenge – Hands (thewanderlustgene.wordpress.com)
- World Turtle Day May 23rd Every Year (ecology.com)
31 thoughts on “Weekly Photo Challenge: Hands”
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small house/BIG GARDEN 
Hope the nest will be successful!
me too!!!
Thanks for dropping in! I know how hard you’re working on your book, so I really appreciate time taken away from it! Although I don’t always comment on your blog, I do read every entry you post.. i’m finding your process as interesting as your characters!
Thanks again for the comment!
These are some lovely close-ups! My turtle was not as accommodating, LOL
I hope her nest is safe, keep us posted.
I will definitely! She’s been scarce these last days…,maybe because she finished all the nesting behaviour, so now goes back to her normal habits? How often does yours roam around during midday?
She is usually out and about (sunning) most days, though I was away for a few days and have not spotted her since I came back on Monday. I’ll keep looking out…lol!
hahahah yay!! Love the turtle dancer. Great photos esta!
maybe tell landscaper dude to “lift the blade” 😉 lets see turtles!
Haha, I laughed out loud at the dancing turtle! 😀
OMG, How silly, right? I hoped others would find it as goofy as I did!
Fu take on the hand challenge!!
I’m assuming that’s a typo! hahahaha!
How exciting!
It is!! I’m better than a hawk at watching the nest! will let you know if I see any activity!
Fascinating that you heard her escape hatch in action!
If I hadn’t heard it twice over my time observing her, I might’ve thought it imaginary! Thank you for commenting!
It was so interesting:)
hi Karen,
yes claws or paws or hands = they all are the same for a soul: tools to discover the world
This may be the best way of describing hands I’ve ever read! Thank you for sharing it here!
That last photo is a hoot. I wish her safety… 😉
me, too! the path of a female is never easy, (regardless of species,) is it?
Love these turtles. The photos just breathes fun, excitement and a wonderful discovery. I saw a turtle one time walking on a lawn, I excitedly brought it home and placed it in our pond. Days after, it ate all the lilies. We finally decided to find a lake and let it find a real , natural home. It was a beautiful moment.
hello! such a nice comment, thank you!
You are so right about it being a wonderful discovery, and I’m happy she’s settled into the backyard! I feel silly admitting this, but until the day I watched her move FAST, I believed the cartoons and fables of my youth ➡ I didn’t think she could!! how embarrassing!!!
I’m hoping for some little ones!