Myrtle

Myrtle has the same story as most of our reptiles. Someone had her as a pet but didn’t want to commit 60+ years to her. That’s right, box turtles can live over 60 years, some have even been recorded to make it to 100. Deciding to make a reptile a part of your family is not a decision you should make lightly. These long lived animals sometimes have to become a part of your will, and when you decide to make an animal a part of your family, it truly should be a lifetime commitment, no matter what animal it is. So many reptiles are displaced because people don’t do their research and don’t realize how much care they actually need, or how long they live.

We do not know how old Myrtle is, but we do know she is a mature adult box turtle. Box Turtles get their name because they actually have a hinge on the bottom part of their shell that allows them to completely close themselves up into their shell. They actually do not develop this hinge until they are around 5 years old. So, Myrtle could be anywhere between 5 and 100 years old.

Myrtle spends her days digging in the dirt, lounging in her pool, and chasing around mealworms. She also makes appearances at educational outreach programs and enjoys a good back-scratch.