Looking for advice on young Eastern Box Turtle *NO I DID NOT take it from its natural habitat*
Hi guys! I was looking for some advice on here, I work in vet med at an animal shelter. Yesterday we had a mom come in with her little boy (who was VERY upset lol) and surrendered this baby box turtle. Intake did not ask the boy where he took it from, no fault of their own they did not know about box turtles and how they stay within a mile radius of there homes. They are used to cat and dog surrenders. The boy was also keeping the box turtle inside, and I do not know for how long. The turtle is smaller than a golf ball. Anyways, I opted to take the turtle home with me, because we don’t have space right now to house animals, let alone a turtle. And I have a quite large yard and garden. After doing some research I found out about the mile radius, and how sometimes they will search for their homes forever. Now I am unsure what to do, I was going to release him/her into my garden and let him go about his way, but now I am scared he won’t make it. I’ve been watching tons of YouTube videos, and considering making him and enclosure on my property, so he’s safe from predators and I would more than happily take good care of the fella. There is no reptile rehabilitations for turtles in my state, only a “reptile house and rescue” place that would keep him in an enclosure as well. The next rehabs I could find are a state over. I live in West Virginia. I have done a lot of rehabs myself, with working in vet med, birds, squirrels etc. so I want everyone to know I am willing to put in the time, resource and research for this guy. Would it be wrong to build him an enclosure in my garden? Of course I will upgrade size of enclosure to meet his needs over the years. Will he stand a chance if I let him free in my garden? Please don’t be harsh on me, or my fellow coworkers as this was a type of situation we do not come across very often.