Most are box turtles. Other turtles are aquatic and remain in or very close to water, but box turtles are terrestrial and range throughout the woodlands and across roads. They occur up and down the eastern half of the country and live in many different forested habitats, from the mountains to the coast. T hese turtles spend the winter buried underground, often to a depth of 1-2 feet. They choose an area with loose soil that they can easily dig into, and use this general location each year.
Most adult males have red eyes, and all females have brown or yellow eyes.
Immature males and occasional adult males may have brown or yellow eyes too. T he shape of the turtle's shell, though, will tell you for certain. The upper, dome-shaped carapace is attached to the lower plastron, which covers the belly. In females, the plastron is perfectly flat, but in males the plastron is cupped, or concave, so that the male can better balance on the female when they mate. T he plastron of box turtles is also hinged in both males and females so that the turtle can tightly close down its shell.