News and Stories

Two dozen turtles moved to a new temporary home at the Zoo yesterday

CINCINNATI, OH (September 4, 2025) – Members of Cincinnati Zoo & Botanical Garden’s animal care and conservation teams, along with representatives from the Ohio Division of Wildlife and school officials gathered up 21 box turtles from a school courtyard in West Carrollton, Ohio, yesterday afternoon (three more were found and brought to the Zoo this morning). The school is slated for demolition after this school year, so the turtles- ranging from mature adults to recent hatchlings- needed new homes. 

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 “The Division of Wildlife reached out to ask if we would be able to collect and care for the turtles.  Helping local wildlife aligns beautifully with the Zoo’s mission, so we were quick to say yes to this opportunity for collaboration,” said Cincinnati Zoo’s director of partnerships in local conservation, Mollie O’Neil.  “We’re excited to give them health exams, temporary homes, and facilitate a future release into safe, wild habitats where these turtles will thrive best.”  

School officials said box turtles have lived in the school courtyard for about 30 years after a few were placed there by retired staff members who were unaware of state regulations (it is illegal to collect and keep box turtles and other wild animals). District officials wanted to ensure that the turtles were safely removed from the courtyard before building demolition begins so they have been collaborating with the Division of Wildlife and Cincinnati Zoo to ensure that the turtles are relocated to a suitable location where they can continue to thrive. 

Zoo vets will ensure they are in good health and will not pose any risks to wild populations in the habitats where they will be released. The Zoo’s reptile team will care for the turtles through fall and winter, with a goal of releasing them in the spring.  

“Box turtle populations are declining due to habitat loss, being hit by vehicles while trying to cross roads, and illegal collection. They are such a wonderful part of our ecosystem and I know our local communities are excited to share our landscapes with this beautiful, long-lived species,” said O’Neil. “This collaboration to do the right thing for wildlife gives us an opportunity to provide a better home for wildlife and to share information about how others can do the same.” 

The Division of Wildlife will work with the Zoo to identify the best locations to release these turtles back into the wild when they become active again in the spring. Emerging research suggests that box turtles may respond very well to repatriation (being returned to the wild after spending time in captivity). The Division of Wildlife and partners like the Cincinnati Zoo are working together to create a protocol and support system for surrendered or confiscated box turtles so that they can be released to ultimately thrive, reproduce, and offset the declining population sizes of this amazing species. 

What to do if you encounter a box turtle: 

• If the turtle is not injured and is not in immediate danger, observe from a distance and leave it alone. 

• If it’s in the road, move it a short distance in the direction it was heading. 

• Don’t take it home, they are wild animals and thrive best in their natural habitat.