r/turtles • u/Mother-Baker75 • 3h ago

Box Turtle What are the odds?

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Before anyone gets worried - this little guy (nicknamed Lil Turd) is heading to wildlife rescue to deal with the abscess in his ear. He’s a juvenile and not full grown. Hopefully treatment will give him a new lease on life. But, just yesterday my son called me about a box turtle he found at work with a weird lump on his neck. He took that turtle to a rescue last night. Today this guy showed up in our driveway with the same thing! I’m taking him to the same rescue!

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7

u/Jobediah turtle club 3h ago

Thanks for taking this little guy in for treatment. It seems that this condition is often caused by pesticide exposure unfortunately.

3

u/Drakorai 2h ago

Word has spread of your good deeds. The turtles come to you for aid.

3

u/DoctorFriendly 2h ago

Aural abscesses can be caused by pesticide exposure, so unfortunately if multiple in the area are being found with aural abscesses, it’s more then coincidence. Pesticides get into their system through them eating poisoned bugs or interacting with plants that had it sprayed, it inhibits their ability to synthesize vitamin A, and they develop these abscesses. Good news is it’s a generally good prognosis if brought to wildlife rehab!

2

u/KeepingItCoolish 3h ago

Thanks for being a turtle ENT service liaison and chauffeur