<P> Once maturity is reached , the chance of death seems not to increase with age . The survivorship curve of box turtles is therefore probably similar to that of other long - living turtles . The average life span of adult box turtles is 50 years , while a significant portion lives over 100 years . The age of a growing box turtle in the wild can not be accurately estimated by counting the growth rings on the scutes ; Their growth is directly affected by the amount of food , types of food , water , illness , and so much more . Box turtle eggs are flexible , oblong and are ( depending on the taxon ) on average 2 -- 4 cm long weighing 5 - 11 g . The normal clutch size is 1 - 7 eggs . In captivity and in the southern end of their range , box turtles can have more than one clutch per year , while the average clutch size is larger in more northern populations . Turtles can defend themselves from predation by hiding , closing their shell and biting . The risk of death is greatest in small animals due to their size and weaker carapace and plastron . While the shell of an adult box turtle is seldom fractured , the box turtle is still vulnerable to surprise attacks and persistent gnawing or pecking . Common predators are mammals like minks , skunks , raccoons , dogs and rodents , but also birds ( e.g. crows , ravens ) and snakes ( e.g. racers , cottonmouths ) are known to kill box turtles . </P>
<P> Once maturity is reached , the chance of death seems not to increase with age . The survivorship curve of box turtles is therefore probably similar to that of other long - living turtles . The average life span of adult box turtles is 50 years , while a significant portion lives over 100 years . The age of a growing box turtle in the wild can not be accurately estimated by counting the growth rings on the scutes ; Their growth is directly affected by the amount of food , types of food , water , illness , and so much more . Box turtle eggs are flexible , oblong and are ( depending on the taxon ) on average 2 -- 4 cm long weighing 5 - 11 g . The normal clutch size is 1 - 7 eggs . In captivity and in the southern end of their range , box turtles can have more than one clutch per year , while the average clutch size is larger in more northern populations . Turtles can defend themselves from predation by hiding , closing their shell and biting . The risk of death is greatest in small animals due to their size and weaker carapace and plastron . While the shell of an adult box turtle is seldom fractured , the box turtle is still vulnerable to surprise attacks and persistent gnawing or pecking . Common predators are mammals like minks , skunks , raccoons , dogs and rodents , but also birds ( e.g. crows , ravens ) and snakes ( e.g. racers , cottonmouths ) are known to kill box turtles . </P>
how can you tell the age of a box turtle
how can you tell the age of a box turtle
by the amount of food , types of food , water , illness , and so much more
by the amount of food , types of food , water , illness , and so much more