Meet Dali, Our Eastern Box Turtle!
Dali is an Eastern box turtle with a beautifully patterned shell—and a name inspired by art. Together, Dali and fellow box turtle Salvador are named for Salvador DalÃ, the famous Spanish Surrealist whose work celebrated imagination and unexpected details.
Every Shell Is Unique
The yellow and orange markings on an Eastern box turtle’s shell vary from one individual to another. Like a fingerprint—or a painting—Dali’s pattern is uniquely his own.
A Familiar Local Turtle
Eastern box turtles are native to the eastern United States, including Maryland. They live in forests, meadows, and wetlands, often remaining within the same small home range throughout their lives.
A Long Life
Eastern box turtles grow slowly and can live for many decades. Habitat loss, roads, lawn equipment, and collection from the wild are among the dangers they face.
Please Leave Wild Turtles Wild
If you see a box turtle crossing a road, you may help it cross only when it is safe—always moving it in the direction it was already traveling. Never take a healthy turtle home or relocate it to a new area.
