HARTMAN RESERVE
  • HOME
  • ABOUT
    • HISTORY
    • WHAT WE ARE
    • VISION
    • OUR PARTNERS
    • STAFF
    • CONNECT
  • VISIT
    • NATURE CENTER HOURS
    • TRAILS >
      • TRAIL RX
    • ANIMAL AMBASSADORS >
      • SPINY SOFTSHELL TURTLE
      • PAINTED TURTLE
      • RED-EARED SLIDER
      • 3-TOED BOX TURTLE
      • ORNATE BOX TURTLES
      • WESTERN FOX SNAKE
      • CORN SNAKE
      • WESTERN HOGNOSE SNAKE
      • TIGER SALAMANDERS
    • EXHIBITS
  • EDUCATION
    • SCHOOL OF THE WILD
    • FIELD TRIPS >
      • PRE K - KINDERGARDEN
      • 1st - 2nd GRADE
      • 3rd - 4th GRADE
      • 5th GRADE and UP
    • EDUCATORS RESOURCES
  • PROGRAMS
    • UPCOMING
    • YOUTH CAMPS >
      • SUMMER CAMPS
    • PUBLIC PROGRAMS >
      • TALES FROM THE TRAILS
    • SPECIAL EVENTS >
      • MAPLE SYRUP FESTIVAL
      • UNDER THE HARVEST MOON
      • WOODLAND WONDERLAND
  • RENTALS
    • COMMUNITY ROOM
    • BUCKLES BUILDING
    • SNOWSHOES
  • OPPORTUNITIES
    • VOLUNTEER
    • INTERNSHIPS
  • DONATE
    • BRICKS FOR BIRDS

MYRTLE & CALLIE

ORNATE BOX TURTLE
Terrapene ornata
Natural History
LIFE
The ornate box turtle is a uniquely Iowan turtle because it is the only Iowan turtle that is fully terrestrial. These box turtles grow to be approximately 5 inches in carapace length, with a carapace that is high domed and tortoise-looking. The carapace has yellow stripes on a black/brown background color, with a large yellow vertebral stripe down the back. The skin color of this turtle is black or olive colored, with many yellow, orange, and red spots on the front legs and head. Once these turtles reach adulthood, they begin mating during the spring season. Ornate box turtles dig nests in sandy soils, typically for five to six eggs. The eggs hatch approximately 2-3 months after being laid.

HABITAT AND RANGE
The box turtle is only found in few, small scattered populations along the Mississippi Alluvial plain in eastern Iowa, and in isolated pockets with suitable habitat in western, northwestern, and eastern and southern parts of Iowa (LeClere, 2020). These turtles require sandy, open areas. Unfortunately, their habitats are disappearing rapidly due to habitat loss.

DIET
Ornate box turtles consume mostly insects and earthworms, but they are willing to stray from this diet when necessary. Particularly, these box turtles enjoy carrion, but box turtles will eat any dead animals. When in season, box turtles will also eat many kinds of vegetation, such as berries, dandelions, prickly pear cacti, and other fruits and flowers.

CONSERVATION STATUS
Ornate box turtles are threatened. This means that it is illegal to kill or collect this species by law in Iowa (LeClere, 2020).

SOURCE: LeClere, J. (2020). Ornate Box Turtle
(Terrapene ornata). Retrieved July 20, 2020, from
http://www.herpnet.net/Iowa-
Herpetology/reptiles/turtles/ornate-box-turtleterrapene-ornata/
Picture
Myrtle & Callie's Story
Hartman Reserve’s ornate box turtle, Myrtle, was
brought to us by a park ranger from McFarlane Park in
2013. Calico (Callie), our other ornate box turtle was
found in Hartman Reserve's mulch pile by a working
volunteer group in the summer of 2019. Since ornate
box turtles are very territorial, and were found outside
their ranges, they could not be released back into the
wild. If we did put them back them they would forever
be wandering around and would not mate. We know
they are both female due to their dull eye colors, as
males have brighter eyes. These two box turtles will
happily live out the rest of their lives at Hartman.
Picture
OUR MISSION
​

​Hartman Reserve Nature Center is dedicated to understanding our environment through education, recreation and community involvement and to stewardship of a unique natural area.
Sign up FOR & view newsletters
CONTACT INFO

​Hartman Reserve Nature Center
657 Reserve Drive
Cedar Falls, Iowa 50613
Phone: (319)-277-2187
Fax: (319) 277-4420
NATURE CENTER HOURS
Monday - Friday: 8 am - 4:30 pm
Saturday: CLOSED
Sunday: 1-5pm
​No cost to enter and enjoy the exhibits and library.
​
TRAILS
Open every day from
​sunrise to sunset. Free to use.

OUTDOOR-ACCESSIBLE RESTROOM
The restroom on the south side of the building is open every day from
​sunrise to sunset.
  • HOME
  • ABOUT
    • HISTORY
    • WHAT WE ARE
    • VISION
    • OUR PARTNERS
    • STAFF
    • CONNECT
  • VISIT
    • NATURE CENTER HOURS
    • TRAILS >
      • TRAIL RX
    • ANIMAL AMBASSADORS >
      • SPINY SOFTSHELL TURTLE
      • PAINTED TURTLE
      • RED-EARED SLIDER
      • 3-TOED BOX TURTLE
      • ORNATE BOX TURTLES
      • WESTERN FOX SNAKE
      • CORN SNAKE
      • WESTERN HOGNOSE SNAKE
      • TIGER SALAMANDERS
    • EXHIBITS
  • EDUCATION
    • SCHOOL OF THE WILD
    • FIELD TRIPS >
      • PRE K - KINDERGARDEN
      • 1st - 2nd GRADE
      • 3rd - 4th GRADE
      • 5th GRADE and UP
    • EDUCATORS RESOURCES
  • PROGRAMS
    • UPCOMING
    • YOUTH CAMPS >
      • SUMMER CAMPS
    • PUBLIC PROGRAMS >
      • TALES FROM THE TRAILS
    • SPECIAL EVENTS >
      • MAPLE SYRUP FESTIVAL
      • UNDER THE HARVEST MOON
      • WOODLAND WONDERLAND
  • RENTALS
    • COMMUNITY ROOM
    • BUCKLES BUILDING
    • SNOWSHOES
  • OPPORTUNITIES
    • VOLUNTEER
    • INTERNSHIPS
  • DONATE
    • BRICKS FOR BIRDS