Arizona's Ornate Box Turtle Watch

Ornate box turtles in Arizona are difficult to find, and, unfortunately, they may be declining. Concerned about their populations, the Arizona Game and Fish Department made collection from the wild illegal in 2005, and developed the Ornate Box Turtle Watch so that you can be our "eyes" in the field by reporting any observations of wild box turtles. This approach relies on data gathered from chance encounters by people driving, hiking, birding, or pursuing other watchable wildlife activities in box turtle habitat in southeastern Arizona.

Ornate box turtles occur only in the southeastern corner of the state, where they prefer desert grassland, desert scrub, and oak woodland habitat.

To learn more about the ornate box turtle, visit

https://www.azgfd.com/wildlife/nongamemanagement/turtle/ornate-box-turtle/

The Arizona Game and Fish Department appreciates your participation in our project! less ↑