Little River Wildlife Rehabilitation

09/10/2026

The Eastern Box Turtle that came in covered in paint is looking more like herself. After a cleaning sesson, she goes in the outdoor enclosure getting sunshine and fresh air on her carapace.
Removing the paint is a slow process because we cannot and will not use harsh chemicals on their bodies. Also being held and scrubbed is stressful for them, so we work in short sessions. We are still working on getting it out of the crevices, but she is looking so much better.

09/09/2026

Second turtle release today! Thank you Raven and Wolf Wildlife Resource and Transport !

09/09/2026

One of the two turtle releases today transported by Raven and Wolf Wildlife Resource and Transport . So grateful for all they do to help us get all these turtles back to their home territories.

09/09/2026

Excited to be participating as a speaker again this year! This is a fun event supporting local wildlife rehabilitators! Grab your ticket today!

Get up close and personal with live birds and wildlife, enjoy some great b**r, and help raise money for local bird/wildlife rehabilitators!

09/08/2026

Turtles when the job requires no turtles.
Today was maintenance day on the swimming hole, and this female Eastern Box Turtle decided to come see what was going on.

09/07/2026

How do box turtles keep cool? They soak in shallow water, they hide under things, and they burrow down.

09/04/2026

It is the time of year we start seeing more dog encounters and more lawnmower strikes.
Meet our 75th intake this season who was found being chewed on by a domestic dog. Dogs usually gnaw on the edges, and what you are seeing is exposed bone under the keratin layer. So, please watch your dogs while they are outside, and if you see them with something in their mouth, go investigate. It could also be something that could harm them, and we want our dogs safe as well as our wildlife.

09/03/2026

Benny wants to remind everyone to stay hydrated in this heat wave.
Benny is a nonreleaseable Eastern Box Turtle kept under State wildlife education permit and educates the public on his species. Read more about his story on our website: littleriverwildlife.org

09/01/2026

The Box turtle than came in painted is slowly returning to her former self. However, we noticed something not right. A protrusion on her head. So, off to the vet where the amazing Dr. Rich explored the wound and found something unusual.
While not unheard of, it is a rare occurrence for a turtle to get botfly larvae. These usually occur on mammals, often seen on squirrels or livestock as they prefer warm blooded animals. The bot fly lay eggs on the skin of the host and the larvae burrow into the skin making a abscess looking sore on the skin. The good news is that they do not consume the host like maggots do, however there can be a secondary infection with the open wound.
Dr. Rich sedated her and pulled 9 out of this turtle. She is now on pain meds and antibiotics. And we continue to work on removing the paint.
We do pay for our vets services, so if you feel so inclined, please donate. You can call Lange Animal Hospital directly and ask to put money on our account, or donate to us through the button. Thank you! 🐢 ❤️

08/31/2026

We love happy updates! The finder of a an Eastern box turtle that was in rehab earlier this year sent update photos because he came to visit.
Plant saucers full of water are great soaking areas for wild box turtles who visit your yard, especially since we haven't had much rain recently. Another option is a bird bath top sitting on the ground.
We rehabbed this turtle earlier this year. He had an aural abscess removed, but also had general muscle weakness and had trouble walking. We put him in PT and a few months later he was nice and strong for release.