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American Box Turtle

Terrapene carolina

Reptile · family Emydidae · order Testudines

  1. G1
    Critically imperiled
  2. G2
    Imperiled
  3. G3
    Vulnerable
  4. G4
    Apparently secure
  5. G5
    Secure

NatureServe global rank G5: secure[2].

Updated October 30, 2026. Published by Humblebee.

American Box Turtle
Photo: Brian Stansberry, CC BY 3.0, via Wikimedia Commons.
Endangered Species Act
Not listed[1]
NatureServe global rank
G5 Secure[2]
Native in
31 states[3]
Longest recorded life
138 years[4]

The American Box Turtle (Terrapene carolina) is a reptile in the family Emydidae, also called the eastern box turtle[5][6]. It is native to 31 US states and territories and is not listed under the US Endangered Species Act[3][1].

Conservation status

NatureServe ranks this turtle G5 (Secure) worldwide and N5 (Secure) in the United States[2][7]. The IUCN Red List category recorded by NatureServe is Vulnerable[8]. It is not listed as endangered or threatened under the US Endangered Species Act[1]. International trade is controlled under CITES Appendix II[9].

Status Value
Endangered Species Act[1] Not listed
NatureServe global rank[2] G5 (Secure)
NatureServe US rank[7] N5 (Secure)
IUCN Red List (via NatureServe)[8] Vulnerable
CITES (international trade)[9] Appendix II
Total population (NatureServe estimate)[10] 10,000 to >1,000,000 individuals

Where American Box Turtle lives

NatureServe lists the species as native in 31 US states and territories, including Alabama, Florida, Georgia, Indiana, Michigan, New York, Texas and Virginia, plus the District of Columbia[3]. Maine is the one place where it is recorded as introduced, meaning not native[11]. Online observation records are most numerous in Virginia, North Carolina, Florida, Maryland and Tennessee, but that follows where people look and report[12].

Alaska: not recordedAKMaine: introduced, state rank SNAMEWisconsin: not recordedWIVermont: not recordedVTNew Hampshire: native, state rank SNRNHWashington: not recordedWAIdaho: not recordedIDMontana: not recordedMTNorth Dakota: not recordedNDMinnesota: not recordedMNIllinois: native, state rank S5ILMichigan: native, state rank SNRMINew York: native, state rank S3NYMassachusetts: native, state rank S3MAOregon: not recordedORNevada: not recordedNVWyoming: not recordedWYSouth Dakota: not recordedSDIowa: native, state rank SUIAIndiana: native, state rank S3INOhio: native, state rank SNROHPennsylvania: native, state rank S3PANew Jersey: native, state rank S3NJConnecticut: native, state rank S3CTRhode Island: native, state rank S4RICalifornia: not recordedCAUtah: not recordedUTColorado: not recordedCONebraska: not recordedNEMissouri: native, state rank S5MOKentucky: native, state rank S5KYWest Virginia: native, state rank SNRWVVirginia: native, state rank S4VAMaryland: native, state rank S5MDDelaware: native, state rank S5DEArizona: not recordedAZNew Mexico: not recordedNMKansas: native, state rank S4KSArkansas: native, state rank S4ARTennessee: native, state rank S4TNNorth Carolina: native, state rank S5NCSouth Carolina: native, state rank S3SCDistrict of Columbia: native, state rank S3DCOklahoma: native, state rank SNROKLouisiana: native, state rank S5LAMississippi: native, state rank S5MSAlabama: native, state rank S5ALGeorgia: native, state rank S5GAHawaii: not recordedHITexas: native, state rank S3TXFlorida: native, state rank S4FLPuerto Rico: not recordedPR
State presence as recorded by NatureServe[13].
Show state ranks (32 states)
StateRankMeaning
AlabamaS5Secure
ArkansasS4Apparently Secure
ConnecticutS3Vulnerable
DelawareS5Secure
District of ColumbiaS3Vulnerable
FloridaS4Apparently Secure
GeorgiaS5Secure
IllinoisS5Secure
IndianaS3Vulnerable
IowaSUUnrankable
KansasS4Apparently Secure
KentuckyS5Secure
LouisianaS5Secure
MaineSNANot Applicable
MarylandS5Secure
MassachusettsS3Vulnerable
MichiganSNRNot Ranked
MississippiS5Secure
MissouriS5Secure
New HampshireSNRNot Ranked
New JerseyS3Vulnerable
New YorkS3Vulnerable
North CarolinaS5Secure
OhioSNRNot Ranked
OklahomaSNRNot Ranked
PennsylvaniaS3Vulnerable
Rhode IslandS4Apparently Secure
South CarolinaS3Vulnerable
TennesseeS4Apparently Secure
TexasS3Vulnerable
VirginiaS4Apparently Secure
West VirginiaSNRNot Ranked

Habitat

NatureServe records forests of hardwood, conifer and mixed trees, woodlands, grassland and cropland with hedgerows[14]. The turtles use forests, fields and the edges between them[15]. In some areas they move out of fields in spring and into woods for the summer, and they often step into shallow pools when it is hot[15]. Females tend to nest in open areas with sandy or loamy soil[15].

Habitat types recorded by NatureServe[14]

Size, diet and lifespan

Young turtles mostly eat invertebrates, while adults eat a mix of plants, fruits, fungi, snails, other invertebrates and carrion, and rarely small animals with backbones[16]. NatureServe records a typical length of 22 cm (9 in)[17]. Females lay one or more clutches, with usually 1 to 8 eggs in each[18]. Females reach sexual maturity at 2,190 days[19]. The longest recorded lifespan is 138 years in the wild, which is a record and not a typical age[4].

Trait Value
Typical length[17] 22 cm (9 in)
Longest recorded lifespan (AnAge)[4] 138 years (wild)
Female maturity[19] 2,190 days (about 6.0 years)
Food habits[20] Invertivore, Herbivore, Frugivore
Migration[21] non-migrant

When to look for it

This turtle is active in daylight and hibernates in cold weather[22][23]. When summer gets hot, the turtles are out mostly in the morning and after rain[23]. It is not a migrant, though populations can differ[21]. Observation records on GBIF peak in May, June and July, which reflects when people look and report and not how many animals there are[24].

January: 484 recordsJanFebruary: 706 recordsFebMarch: 2,088 recordsMarApril: 8,367 recordsAprMay: 16,236 recordsMayJune: 18,130 recordsJunJuly: 11,954 recordsJulAugust: 8,916 recordsAugSeptember: 8,954 recordsSepOctober: 5,190 recordsOctNovember: 1,463 recordsNovDecember: 593 recordsDec
US observation records on GBIF by month, all years. The three months with the most records are highlighted. Records show when people look and report, not how many animals there are[24].
Show records by month
MonthRecords
January484
February706
March2,088
April8,367
May16,236
June18,130
July11,954
August8,916
September8,954
October5,190
November1,463
December593

Where to see it

National Park Service species lists record American Box Turtle as present in 38 park units[25]. Present means the park has a confirmed record, not that sightings are common.

And 14 more park units.

States with the most GBIF observation records: Virginia, North Carolina, Florida, Maryland, Tennessee[12]. These counts follow where people look and report, not population size.

Questions people ask

Is the American Box Turtle endangered?
It is not listed as endangered or threatened under the US Endangered Species Act[1]. NatureServe ranks it G5 (Secure) globally, while the IUCN category it records is Vulnerable[2][8].
Where does the American Box Turtle live?
It is native in 31 US states and territories and introduced in Maine[3][11].
What does the American Box Turtle eat?
Adults eat plants, fruits, fungi, snails, other invertebrates and carrion, and rarely small animals with backbones[16]. Young turtles mostly eat invertebrates[16].
How big is the American Box Turtle?
NatureServe records a typical length of 22 cm (9 in)[17].
How long does the American Box Turtle live?
The longest recorded lifespan is 138 years in the wild, but that is a record and not a typical lifespan[4].

Facts and sources

  1. American Box Turtle is not listed as endangered or threatened under the US Endangered Species Act in USFWS ECOS data (checked 2026-10-30). USFWS ECOS
  2. NatureServe global conservation status rank for American Box Turtle: G5 (Secure). NatureServe Explorer
  3. NatureServe lists American Box Turtle as native in 31 US states and territories: Alabama, Arkansas, Connecticut, the District of Columbia, Delaware, Florida, Georgia, Iowa, Illinois, Indiana, Kansas, Kentucky, Louisiana, Massachusetts, Maryland, Michigan,... NatureServe Explorer
  4. Maximum recorded lifespan in AnAge: 138 years in the wild. This is a record, not a typical lifespan. AnAge
  5. American Box Turtle (Terrapene carolina) is a reptile in the family Emydidae, order Testudines. NatureServe Explorer
  6. Other English names listed by NatureServe for American Box Turtle: eastern box turtle. NatureServe Explorer
  7. NatureServe national rank in the United States: N5 (Secure). NatureServe Explorer
  8. IUCN Red List category as recorded by NatureServe: Vulnerable. NatureServe Explorer
  9. CITES listing recorded by NatureServe: Appendix II (controls on international trade). NatureServe Explorer
  10. NatureServe estimate of total adult population (global, as a range): 10,000 to >1,000,000 individuals. NatureServe Explorer
  11. NatureServe lists American Box Turtle as introduced (not native) in: Maine. NatureServe Explorer
  12. US states with the most GBIF observation records of American Box Turtle: Virginia, North Carolina, Florida, Maryland, Tennessee. Record counts follow observer effort, not population size. GBIF
  13. NatureServe state ranks for American Box Turtle (map and table on this page). NatureServe Explorer
  14. Habitat types NatureServe records for American Box Turtle: Forest - hardwood, Forest - conifer, Forest - mixed, Woodland - hardwood, Woodland - conifer, Woodland - mixed, Grassland/herbaceous, Cropland/hedgerow. NatureServe Explorer
  15. NatureServe notes on habitat for American Box Turtle. NatureServe Explorer
  16. NatureServe notes on food for American Box Turtle. NatureServe Explorer
  17. Typical length recorded by NatureServe: 22 cm (9 in). NatureServe Explorer
  18. NatureServe notes on reproduction for American Box Turtle. NatureServe Explorer
  19. Age at female sexual maturity in AnAge: 2,190 days (about 6.0 years). AnAge
  20. Adult food habits recorded by NatureServe: Invertivore, Herbivore, Frugivore. NatureServe Explorer
  21. NatureServe migration category for American Box Turtle: non-migrant (populations can differ). NatureServe Explorer
  22. Adult activity patterns recorded by NatureServe: Hibernates/aestivates, Diurnal. NatureServe Explorer
  23. NatureServe notes on phenology for American Box Turtle. NatureServe Explorer
  24. GBIF observation records of American Box Turtle in the US by month (chart on this page). GBIF
  25. NPSpecies park lists recording American Box Turtle as present (list on this page). NPS NPSpecies

Status, range and habitat come from NatureServe Explorer (CC BY 4.0) and USFWS ECOS at the snapshot date. Listings change by federal rule. State lists are where NatureServe records the species, not a promise that you will see it there. Never name a place smaller than a state. GBIF and park records count observations and checklists. They show where and when people report the species, not how many animals live there.

NatureServe. 2026. NatureServe Explorer [web application]. NatureServe, Arlington, Virginia. Available https://explorer.natureserve.org. (Accessed: October 30, 2026). Licensed under CC BY 4.0; SpeciesFacts selected and summarized it.

Photo: Brian Stansberry, CC BY 3.0, via Wikimedia Commons.