PHOTOS: 4 baby Eastern box turtles born at Virginia wildlife center

Sep 19, 2025 - 19:25

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PHOTOS: 4 baby Eastern box turtles born at Virginia wildlife center

RICHMOND, Va. (WRIC) -- Four baby Eastern box turtles -- a species with a plummeting population in Virginia -- were recently hatched at the Southwest Virginia Wildlife Center, including rare turtle twins.

Typically, baby turtles do not need help from humans in order to hatch safely -- which is why it's so important not to disturb a turtle nest.

However, in this case, these eggs were laid by a mother Eastern box turtle while she was recovering from a severe ear abscess at the Southwest Virginia Wildlife Center.

Center staff incubated the eggs she laid and, within a few weeks, they had adorable baby turtles.

Baby Eastern box turtles hatched at the Southwest Virginia Wildlife Center. (Photos: Southwest Virginia Wildlife Center)

One of four baby Eastern box turtles hatched at the Southwest Virginia Wildlife Center. (Photos: Southwest Virginia Wildlife Center)

Four baby turtles were hatched from the three eggs that the center staff incubated. This included a set of twin turtles.

As twins don't usually hatch due to the limited space and resources within the egg, the center described this success as quite rare.

"Although there are no specific studies on twins in Eastern Box Turtles, one study on the Common Snapping Turtle found the incidence of twins to be around 1%," the center said in a Sept. 18 press release.

Rare twin Eastern box turtles, who hatched at the Southwest Virginia Wildlife Center. (Photos: Southwest Virginia Wildlife Center)

Rare twin Eastern box turtles, who hatched at the Southwest Virginia Wildlife Center. This photo shows their conjoined yolks. (Photos: Southwest Virginia Wildlife Center)

The twins ultimately had to be aided in hatching -- something that you would typically never do, but in this case, the center's veterinarian deemed it necessary.

It was then discovered that, while the turtles were both fully formed with separate yolks, those yolks were conjoined. Surgery was performed and they were successfully separated, with the center calling this the "best possible outcome."

"Separated, safe and so, so tired from their dramatic entrance into the world," the center said. "Each hatchling weighed only 3 grams and were no larger than a nickel!"

Rare twin Eastern box turtles, who hatched at the Southwest Virginia Wildlife Center. This photo shows their conjoined yolks. (Photos: Southwest Virginia Wildlife Center)

A mother Eastern box turtle and her rare turtle twins, who hatched at the Southwest Virginia Wildlife Center. (Photos: Southwest Virginia Wildlife Center)

The survival rate to adulthood is estimated by some to be less than 0.1%, the center said.

Because of this, all four baby turtles will stay in the center's care for the winter, which means "every gram of weight" these little ones can gain will increase their odds after they're released into the wild.

Four baby Eastern box turtles hatched at the Southwest Virginia Wildlife Center. (Photos: Southwest Virginia Wildlife Center)

"As long as they survive the next few weeks and begin to eat, their odds of release are pretty good," the center said of the twins' chances. "They are half the size of their normal-sized clutch mates at only 3g. They will have the best possible care in the meantime and we hope they will be able to close the gap in size over the coming months."

More about the state threatened Eastern box turtle

The Eastern box turtle is designated as a threatened species in Virginia, meaning it is considered likely to become endangered in the near future.

According to the center, there are many factors involved in why the Eastern box turtle population is on a steep decline in Virginia. These turtles are losing their habitats to urbanization and they are regularly hit by cars.

"If you find a turtle on the road, please move it to the other side of the road in the direction it was facing to help it cross safely," the center said. "Do not attempt to take it to a different location since these turtles spend their lives within a small radius, often less than 1 mile."

Eastern box turtles are also poached and sold as pets at significant rates -- despite it being illegal for anyone in the Commonwealth to keep one of these turtles as a pet.

Additionally, while Eastern box turtles have long lifespans, they reproduce slowly. This means it's harder for them to recover from population loss.

For more information, check out the Southwest Virginia Wildlife Center's Facebook page.