The Gulf Coast Box Turtle (Terrapene carolina major), the largest of all box turtles, is distributed across the Gulf Coast from the Florida panhandle to east Texas. Protected in Florida, this turtle has been extirpated from much of its historic range and is rare in many places where it still persists. Fortunately we have found them to be locally abundant in the floodplain this fall, in areas that will be several feet under water in coming months. These animals remain active well into November, and this large adult was found near the Choctawhatchee by Bill Summerour and Eric Soehren on November 10. Thanks to Bill for the photo above.
Ava Bailey with Gulf Coast Box Turtle, Mobile County AL, April 2006
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