| Outdoor Means Outdoor | | | | submerse itself completely. It also needs shade and |
| When you choose to make your pet turtle an | | | | material for your turtle to burrow. |
| outdoor turtle you need to commit to it | | | | Hibernation |
| wholeheartedly. Moving a turtle from indoors to | | | | Most turtles hibernate in the wild in the wintertime. |
| outdoors constantly can have a negative effect on | | | | This is a natural and healthy process that has helped |
| your pet. Turtle are very sensitive to sudden | | | | turtles evolve and survive for literally hundreds of |
| changes in their environment and constantly changing | | | | millions of years. If you have an aquatic turtle or |
| their temperature can make them unhealthy and sick. | | | | tortoise, make sure they have water that is deep |
| A sudden change in temperature as little as ten | | | | enough that it does not freeze completely in the |
| degrees can shock your pet turtle's system and | | | | wintertime. If you have a terrestrial turtle, make sure |
| make them ill. | | | | there is enough ground for them to burrow into. |
| Housing Outdoor Turtles | | | | Although some people want to bring the turtle inside |
| Outdoor turtles should have a pen that is large | | | | in the wintertime, it will survive and thrive if it is in its |
| enough for them to move around and be | | | | natural environment if it is healthy. If the turtle is |
| comfortable. The walls should be high enough so that | | | | diseased or sick, you may consider bringing it inside in |
| they don't escape. Usually a couple of feet is high | | | | the wintertime where it will not hibernate. |
| enough. You'll be able to gauge an appropriate height | | | | If you're looking for more information on caring for |
| based on your turtle's size. The enclosure should also | | | | your outdoor turtle, there are plenty of great |
| be made of non-edible material. Even though turtles | | | | resources out there. Most are free, but there are |
| can be picky eaters, they can also gnaw on and eat | | | | also other turtle guides that, for a small cost, provide |
| things like wood or other organic materials. Your pen | | | | a complete and comprehensive overview of how to |
| also needs to have a water source in the | | | | care for your pet turtle. |
| summertime, preferably enough for the turtle to | | | | |