Family Unburies Box Turtles That Spent 5 Months Underground

A Michigan-based family regularly shares their life with pets on TikTok (@dogdogcatcatnoodle). They have their hands full with two dogs, two cats, a snake, and two turtles.

Those box turtles, Jelly Bean and Squirtle, require unique care compared to the other pets. Each year, the family goes outside and buries them in the yard to hibernate!

At the end of the 5-month hibernation period, the family goes outside to dig them back up.

The family took to TikTok to show what it’s like to dig the turtles up so you can see the process for yourself.

The video was captioned, “It’s Turtle Day! Digging up the turtles from hibernation!”

In the clip, you can see the two turtles being pulled from deep under the soil before getting baths and soaking up some sunshine. After months underground, it must’ve been nice to finally see the sun.

According to the Pismo Beach Veterinary Clinic, “Hibernation allows the box turtle to live [through winter] until better times return in the spring.” Due to the physiological changes that occur during hibernation, many box turtles don’t survive the process.

The clinic is quick to remind pet parents to consult a veterinarian before attempting to hibernate a turtle at home. They wrote: “There are many questions you need to ask and answer before your box turtle can safely hibernate. The first is should you even hibernate the turtle? If it is healthy, then yes. Hibernation helps turtles maintain normal thyroid activity, synchronize their reproduction cycles, and complete their normal life expectancies. These questions should be addressed to an exotics veterinarian along with a medical exam, stool check and in some cases other diagnostics prior to the hibernation period.”

@dogdogcatcatnoodle It’s Turtle Day! Digging up the turtles from hibernation! #turtleday #turtle #boxturtle #petsoftiktok #hibernation #brumation ♬ original sound – DogDogCatCatNoodle

In a follow-up video, the family of Jelly Bean and Squirtle explained that they allow their turtles to live outside in their Michigan yard year-round. Their yard is fenced and turtle-proofed, though it is open to possible predators like birds, cats, and raccoons.

The family is hoping to allow the turtles to live in a way that mimics the wild as best as is safely possible. Check out the TikTok video below:

@dogdogcatcatnoodle Replying to @falsepersona You have turtle questions? I have some answers! Lets talk turtle brumation! #turtle #boxturtle #turtletalk #petsoftiktok #hibernation #brumation ♬ original sound – DogDogCatCatNoodle

If you’d like to see more of the box turtles and their family, be sure to check out @dogdogcatcatnoodle on TikTok.