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.
Thank you for adopting Crunch!
