On November 1, a homeowner in Lynchburg found an adult Eastern Box Turtle in her yard – its carapace [upper shell] was entirely painted with pink latex paint! The turtle was taken to a local permitted wildlife rehabilitator, and was transferred to the Wildlife Center on November 15.

Other than the paint, the turtle was in good condition and had no injuries. The Wildlife Center staff began short scrubbing sessions each day to remove the latex paint; within a week, the team had most of the paint removed. The turtle should be able to be released in the spring. Turtles must be released back into their small home range for the best chance of survival.

Unfortunately, this is not the first “painted” box turtle that the Center has treated; in 2013, a very bright and colorfully painted turtle was admitted from the Natural Chimneys Campground. Wilson, the Center’s education Eastern Box Turtle, also had an entirely painted shell when he was found in 2009. If you find a healthy turtle in the wild, leave it alone! Turtle populations are declining, and it’s important to leave every healthy adult in the wild where it belongs. Read more tips on how you can help turtles here.





Your special donation will help the Center to provide care to this turtle ... and to the 2,500 sick, injured, and orphaned wild animals the Center will treat this year. Please help!