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Box turtles are small, colorful, make no noise and eat very little compared to other more traditional pets. But reptiles in general, and box turtles in particular, have requirements that can be difficult to satisfy in captivity. All turtle species found in Missouri are protected by state law as wild or non-wild. They pose no threat to wild fish or humans if not provoked. Missouri turtles are useful scavengers because they feed on aquatic plants, dead animals, snails, aquatic insects and crabs. It is illegal to capture, sell, or trade Missouri tortoises in the pet trade, and only common species of Snapping Turtles and Softshell Turtles are considered game when caught using approved methods (Briddler 2008). To help turtles thrive in Missouri, be careful when driving, especially in the spring and summer when turtles mate and nest, and report all known turtle poaching activities to Operation Game Thief by calling 1-800-392-1111 (“Turtles” 2015). To learn more about reporting poaching activities, click here. In Missouri, Blanding`s turtles are found only in a few counties in extreme northeastern Missouri and one county in extreme northwestern Missouri. This species is listed as endangered in the state due to its limited numbers, reduced natural habitats, traffic accidents, and severe losses from nest predators such as raccoons (“Blanding`s Turtle,” 2015). Blanding`s turtles are medium-sized turtles with an upper shell of 5 to 7 inches. They are characterized by their moderately high arched upper shell and long head and neck.

Blanding`s turtles are best known for their bright yellow chin and underneck. Their heads and limbs are brown and yellow in color, and the upper shells of Blanding`s turtles are dark brown or black with many yellow spots or bars. The lower shells are brownish yellow, with a large dark brown spot on the outer part of each Scout. The front third of the lower shells is foldable and mobile. This species of turtle is semi-aquatic and spends much of its time in shallow water at the edge of mashed or river canyons, walking on land or lounging on tree trunks. They feed on crabs and a variety of aquatic insects, snails, small fish, frogs and aquatic plants. The three-toed box turtle has a tall, arched olive or brown carapace, sometimes with slight yellow or orange lines on the scales. The lower shell is yellow with brown spots. Like the richly decorated box turtle, the lower shell is foldable and can provide protection from predators. Turtles have three hind toes. Three-toed male box turtles have red, orange eyes on their head and front legs and a thick tail. Females have yellow-brown eyes, less orange coloration and a small tail.

Three-toed box turtles are found in forests and bushy fields. Adults usually have an area of 2 to 5 hectares. Young turtles feed mainly on earthworms and insects, while adults tend to be vegetarians and consume a variety of plants, berries and mushrooms. On private, non-navigable waterways, adjacent landowner property extends to the middle of the watercourse. Therefore, fishermen and floaters are not allowed to use these waterways. Fishing, wading pools and boating are illegal unless permission is given to the landowner. Line, jug line, hanging, loop, grip or rod and line. It is forbidden to shoot turtles with firearms.

There is no near season for Without sunlight (especially ultraviolet light), a balanced, natural diet, and a preferred temperature range, box turtles perform poorly in captivity. Without proper care, the result is a dead turtle or with a deformed shell, upper beak and claws and too low body weight. The animal can live in a constant state of starvation. False card turtles are small to medium-sized species that have a brown or olive upper shell with narrow, yellow circles or lines. The upper length of the shell varies between 3 and 10 inches. The middle of the upper shell has a low crest, and the posterior edge of the upper shell is heavily serrated. The lower shell of falsely card turtles is greenish-yellow in color with light brown lines that follow the seam of each cut. The head and neck of turtles are brown or greenish-gray with yellow lines; two thick yellow lines behind each eye of the fake card turtle form a back “L” shape.

The species appears to have wide eyes due to the bright yellow color of the eyes with a round, black pupil. Turtles with false maps are semi-aquatic and live mainly in large rivers such as the Missouri and Mississippi, river swamps and dead-arm lakes or built reservoirs. They also like to sunbathe on tree trunks or rocks. They feed on aquatic plants and animals such as snails, insects, crabs and dead fish. Regardless of where they are caught, fish that do not have a legal length must not be possessed in waters or shorelines where length restrictions apply. The head and tail must remain attached to fish when fishing in waters where length restrictions apply. Snappers. Softshell turtles can only be caught from July 1 to December 31.

The daily limit is 5.3. Alligator snapper is protected and cannot be carried.4. A maximum of five (5) specimens of a native turtle other than Western Chicken Turtle, Blanding`s Turtle, Illinois Mud Turtle, Yellow Mud 1. It is illegal to possess a Western Chicken Turtle, Blanding`s Turtle, Illinois Mud Turtle or Yellow Mud Turtle.2 A maximum of five (5) combined specimens of all native turtles except Western Chicken Turtles, Blanding`s Turtles, Illinois Mud Turtles, Missouri these turtles are extremely common. They are found throughout the country, with the exception of some northern counties. This species is the most popular pet turtle in the United States, and many die due to improper care (“Red-eared Slider” 2015). issued without authorisation.5. Endangered wildlife lawfully captured outside of Missouri can be imported, transported or possessed, but cannot be sold or purchased without box turtles being omnivores. The diet in nature includes insects, larvae, worms, snails, snails, crustaceans, eggs, carrion, mushrooms, flowers, fruits and other plant matter. Captive box turtles can be fed a diet consisting of 50% fresh vegetables mixed with fruit and 50% low-fat protein, such as low-fat canned dog food.

It is usually not absolutely necessary to hibernate your pet box turtle. Most seem to do well without ever going into hibernation. The only time this could be a real problem is if you absolutely refuse to eat in autumn and winter. In this case, you may need to hibernate it, at least for a while. This manipulation would NOT be legal in Missouri. You cannot fish five hooks on one pole and one line. To comply with the code, you will need to cut the hooks from two of the baits OR remove two of the hook baits and replace them with hookless bait or attractors. In Missouri, western painted turtles are found everywhere except in southeastern colonies, especially in prairie regions.

Historically, painted turtles appear in Native American legends. They are often kept as pets and can die in these cases due to improper care (“Western Painted Turtle” 2015). It`s also important to realize that in most states, it`s illegal to take a box turtle out of the wild and keep it in captivity. Wild populations are declining, so they are protected in most states. During their active season (April to September), box turtles move around their home areas in search of food, water, courtship, a nesting place and/or a resting table. When active, these animals become visible to humans. Too often, people who visit the country — both visitors and out-of-state residents — find and collect a box turtle and take it home as a souvenir of their trip. In Missouri, the Northern Map Turtle is found primarily in the Ozark region of Missouri and the upper Mississippi River in northeastern Missouri (“Northern Map Turtle” 2015).

Species up to a comination limit of 5.2. Common Snapping Turtles and Soft-shell Turtles can be used with hand, hand net, bow, crossbow, trotting line, throw line, limb line, bench box Turtles have lived for hundreds of thousands of years in the area we call Missouri. There are many man-made situations that have harmed these small, colorful, silent and interesting creatures. Add to this the fact that natural predators (box turtle eggs are eaten by raccoons and skunks) and habitat loss continue to reduce their numbers, and it`s amazing that we see box turtles. The bottom line is that Missouri`s box turtles need all the help we can provide to get them there in the future. This type of softshell has small bumps or spines on the front of the upper carapace and small ridges on either side of the snout. These characteristics distinguish the species from the Midlands softshell. Male spiny softshell turtles have an upper shell length of 5 to 9.25 inches and females have an upper shell length of 7 to 17 inches.

The coloration of the upper shell varies with age and sex. Males and juveniles have an olive or brown upper shell with dark spots and circles. Adult females have a dark olive or brown upper shell with brown and gray spots. The head and limbs of turtles are usually brown or olive with small dark spots. The lower shell is cream-colored. The species has a long snout that has yellow stripes on both sides. These stripes run on both sides of the head. The snout functions like a snorkel and allows the species to spend long periods underwater. Eastern spiny soft shells can be found in large rivers, lakes and ponds with a muddy or sandy bottom.

They feed on fish, crabs, insects, snails and tadpoles. Box turtles can be excellent pets if properly cared for. Before you bring a pet reptile or anything else home, be sure to do some research to learn more about its requirements so you can take care of it properly.