Long-term comparison of relocated and resident box turtles, Terrapene carolina carolina

The eastern box turtle, Terrapene carolina carolina, is a long-lived turtle species that is declining across much of its range. A mark-recapture study of this species was carried out for over thirty years at the Mason Neck National Wildlife Refuge in Virginia. During this time, box turtles were relocated to the reserve and became part of the study. Several individuals were recaptured more than ten years after relocation including one that was recaptured after almost 28 years. Overall, however, turtles relocated to the study area appeared not to fare as well as resident turtles. Significantly fewer relocated turtles were recaptured after their first winter at the new site (33.3 %) than resident turtles (51.5 %) though the survival rates for relocated and resident turtles were similar for subsequent years. Relocation can work as a rescue strategy for some individuals but it can also negatively impact relocated individuals. This study is the first to show long-term residency of relocated box turtles.