The Ornate Box Turtle inhabits grasslands and prairies of the central U.S. Its shell is decorated with radiating yellow lines on a dark brown background. It is more tolerant of dry conditions than its eastern relative.
Best time to see a Ornate Box Turtle
The best time to see a Ornate Box Turtle is May–July, when about 62% of U.S. sightings happen, based on 10,246 research-grade iNaturalist observations.
Recent Ornate Box Turtle sightings near you
Live, research-grade observations from iNaturalist. Allow location to center the map on you.
Spot a Ornate Box Turtle? Identify it instantly.
Point Huck at any plant, bird, or animal for an instant ID, its rarity, and a live map of where it is being seen near you.
Get HuckGet an alert when a Ornate Box Turtle is spotted
Pick a park, state, or city and we’ll email you when one turns up there. One check a day, only when there’s something new.
Free. Unsubscribe from any email. See our Privacy Policy.
Love reptiles & amphibians? Get Huck field notes
Spotting tips, new species, and the best of what people are finding in the wild - straight to your inbox.