🐢Crunch: Western Box Turtle (Terrapene Ornata)
Geographic area: Southwestern United States including the Great Plains and into northern
Mexico.
Habitat: grasslands with low shrubs, finding shelter in rodent burrows or under fallen vegetation
during the heat of the day. They can range while foraging anywhere from 333 to 500 yards in
New Mexico. Their range may expand after rains when more invertebrates are out.

Diet: opportunistic omnivores, eating insects, earthworms, sowbugs, vegetation including
greens, flowers, prickly pear cactus pads, and fruits, even small birds and eggs, dead mammals,
tadpoles, and other small foods.
Fun facts:
Rescue With a Comeback — Crunch arrived at the Naturalist Center in 1992 after a dog
injured his carapace and plastron. With dedicated care from Mike Sanchez, he made a full
recovery and has been charming visitors ever since.
Winter Brumation — Box turtles don’t hibernate like mammals—they brumate. In winter, they
burrow 1.5 to 6 feet into loose soil to escape freezing temperatures. Their heart rate,
metabolism, and breathing slow, but they may wake on warm days for a drink.
A Half‐Century Old — Crunch is over 50 years old, likely hatched in 1973 in Las Cruces. Box
turtles are known for their impressive longevity, and Crunch is living proof.
Big Personality, Small Shell — Crunch is a bold, bossy, larger‐than‐life character. He
chases volunteers, nibbles at shoes, and struts around like he owns the place. His behavior is
unusual for a box turtle—Crunch is truly one of a kind.
The “Lion King” of the Naturalist Center — Crunch loves to perch on top of his log,
surveying his kingdom. He’s our resident “Lion King,” always watching, always ruling, always in
charge.