My ornate box turtle keeps trying to get out of it's yard every September. Why is that?

Question

My Ornate Box Turtle keeps trying to get out every September, she's been doing this since we got here (7 years ago). Does anybody know that answer. (She does not live in a cage but 30ft by 25ft backyard)

I don't think this is to do with mating becaasue I think it's in spring when they mate and lay eggs in summer, and plus the go i to hibernation

I don't think it's with Hibernation either because i do have a big area where she hibernates with lots of sticks, leaves, and other garden waste (like grass) there... So it's not with hibernation

Answer 1

It IS hibernation. It is looking for a primo hibernacula and it is drawn to certain kinds of sites it is not finding in your yard.

They aim for the south side of a hill. The exact mechanism they use to find hibernacula is not known- they may be drawn by a certain scent, or be following solar clues, etc.

In the late summer/early fall, most of outdoor reptiles start to look for and gather near good hibernation sites.

Answer 2

Dig the dirt up and make it very loose, then put deep piles of leaves over the loose soil. The tortoise is probably trying to hibernate. My tortoises (two of them) would dig down and completely bury themselves in the dirt and I would pile about 2 ft of dead leaves on top of them to keep them from freezing. Then they would dig out every spring, both at exactly the same time. Very amazing.

Answer 3

either its for mating purposes or to find a place for hibernation. if its for mating purposes she is going to go where she can be with other turtles like her to mate or if its for hibernation she is tyring to go where the cold wont kill her

Answer 4

september is time to find a hibernation place

Answer 5

september is mating season and its insticts are telling it 2 find a mate