Population Study of Eastern Box Turtles, Terrapene carolina, at Fort Custer, Michigan

Abstract

The Eastern box turtle, Terrapene carolina, is a woodland species originally found in the eastern and central parts of the United States. Focusing on the general composition, health, and effect of predation, we carried out a quantitative field study of a population of box turtles at Fort Custer Army Training Center in Kalamazoo and Calhoun counties, Michigan. Habitat management and restoration IS a concern at Fort Custer where land use has altered, and may continue to alter, the environment. The objective of this study was to determine the status of the wild population of box turtles in this particular area, to gauge whether the population would decline in the future as it has in many other areas, and to offer land management recommendations. This study also investigated whether there were significant differences in age, size, habitat distribution and predation between the two sexes of these turtles in the population at Fort Custer.