The Southwest Virginia Wildlife Center celebrated the hatching of four state-threatened eastern box turtles.
Two of the hatchlings are extremely rare twins, emerging from eggs laid by a mother recovering from a severe ear infection.
Staff incubated the eggs while the mother healed, ensuring successful hatching despite her health challenges.
Intensive Care Boosts Survival Odds
Baby turtles face high mortality, with less than 0.1 percent surviving to adulthood.
The center will keep the hatchlings through winter to help them gain weight and strengthen survival chances.
The twin turtles weigh only 3 grams each and are much smaller than their siblings.
Staff provide intensive care to help the twins grow and close the size gap, increasing release potential.
Protecting a Threatened Species
Virginia banned keeping eastern box turtles as pets in 2021, recognizing them as a threatened species.
Populations decline due to habitat loss, road accidents, poaching, and naturally slow reproduction rates.
The center advises people to move turtles safely across roads in the direction they were traveling.
Relocating turtles to unfamiliar areas harms survival, as they typically remain within a one-mile home range.
Twin Hatchlings Highlight Rarity
Twins occur in only about 1 percent of eastern box turtle eggs.
Limited space and resources make it difficult for both twins to survive in the wild.
