Can Turtles Climb? Species, Reasons & Safety Guide

When we think of a turtle, we often think about them tucking themselves away in a shell for protection. They move very slowly and don’t seem like athletic reptiles. But can turtles climb? And if so, how well?

Ultimately, the answer depends on which turtle we’re talking about. Some are blessed with the ability to climb, while others prefer to stay ground level. In this article, we will examine which species can climb and how well they can do it.

Some Turtles Can Climb

Some breeds of turtles are ground dwellers. They don’t climb up surfaces, even if they can shuffle up slight inclines. However, other turtles are quite skillful at climbing. But how do they do this with their heavy shells and rigid bodies? Turtles are incredibly strong, maybe more so than we give them credit for. If you have a pet turtle and you’ve noticed that they tried to climb out of their enclosure, there’s likely a reason.

Turtles often climb when their habitat is not suitable. Others might do so for the adventure alone. We will examine the differences between the shelled reptiles and their climbing skills.

Turtles, Terrapins, and Tortoises

You might hear terms getting thrown around a lot, and you’re not quite sure which is which. What is the difference between a turtle, terrapin, and tortoise?

Turtle

A turtle is a blanket term for shelled reptiles, including 14 families of over 200 subspecies. They are in the order of reptiles known as Testudines, with the characterization of an extraordinary shell that develops over their body to protect their sensitive organs.

They are generally divided into tortoises and freshwater terrapins. Many of them are omnivorous, feeding on plants and animals to survive. Interestingly, the Leatherback turtle is the fourth largest reptile in the world.

The turtle is made up of soft tissue on the legs and head. Two layers of the shell cover its middle. The top layer is known as the carapace, and the bottom layer is known as the plastron. Together, these shell portions protect the turtle’s sensitive organs and protect them from danger.

Turtles can also be tiny. The smallest living turtle is the Speckled Dwarf Tortoise (Chersobius signatus), originating in South Africa. They grow no larger than 10 centimeters, or 3.9 inches, in length.

As you can see, there are plenty of varieties of these fascinating creatures, but they all have one thing in common—their durable, intricate shells.

Terrapins

Terrapins are one of several species of turtles that can live in brackish freshwater or on land (depending on the type). Many terrapins that live in freshwater have flatter shells than land turtles, and they have some pretty interesting markings.

On the other hand, terrapins like box turtles reside primarily on land, although they do like sticking by a freshwater source. Most of them spend their time in moist soils.

Some examples of terrapins include:

Tortoise

All tortoises are turtles, but not all turtles are tortoises. A tortoise falls into the category of a turtle. Unlike terrapins, tortoises live entirely on land.

While some tortoises are omnivorous, eating snails, worms, and other insects, they are mainly herbivores. You might think of a tortoise as a huge turtle, but some are pretty small.

Some examples of tortoises include:

Certain Species of Turtle Can Climb Trees

Some species of turtle can climb trees and certainly will. They can climb for all sorts of reasons. For example, if they’re out of water and need to escape their immediate surroundings, they can climb several feet.

For example, it isn’t unusual to see a Snapping Turtle or a Box Turtle scaling a fence. Even though it might seem a little off, it’s perfectly within their realm of expertise. Most climb out of necessity, but others will do so to get a barrier out of their way.

If something stands between them and a destination, they can use their sharp claws and muscle strength to get them where they’re going.

Why Turtles Climb Trees

You might think it’s odd or peculiar that a turtle can climb. What are some reasons they might do so? The reasons can really vary depending on whether the turtle is in captivity or in the wild.

Escape from Predators

They might be trying to evade something that plans to eat them. Even though tucking up in their shell is an excellent method to prevent being eaten, so is escaping the predator entirely. If tureltes sense dangers on the horizon, they might climb up a tree or another surface to stay out of sight.

Search for Food

If a turtle is having trouble finding food on the ground, it might climb a log or branch to see what snacks it can dredge up.

Stress Response

If they find something on the ground scary, they might try to get to safety. If they don’t feel like the ground is safe, a tree or another high-up surface might be a better bet.

Temperature Regulation

Turtles are cold-blooded and must maintain their body temperature. If they are too cold or warm, they might try to change positions to be more comfortable.

Basking

If your turtle sees a good spot that looks prime for basking, it might try to reach it. Turtles love laying out in the sun to soak up vitamin D, which creates the calcium needed for strong shells and bones.

Dirty Water

If a turtle has unsanitary living conditions, it will climb to escape and venture to find a more suitable space to inhabit. If it is in captivity, this might be a sign that your turtle’s water is full of nitrates and requires a full renewal.

Territory Expansion

A turtle might get crowded in their current living space and utilize climbing to locate new territory.

Can Climbing Lead to Shell Injury?

If a turtle falls on a hard surface, it can cause shell damage. Even though turtles have incredibly strong shells, they aren’t bulletproof. If a turtle takes a tumble, it should be fine, but the shell can fracture or crack in rare cases.

A cracked shell can lead to a whirlwind of problems, allowing bacteria into vulnerable parts of the turtle’s body. Infection can spread quickly, becoming increasingly problematic. In the wild, this can lead to death. In captivity, it will require veterinary-prescribed antibiotics.

Conclusion

To your surprise, you now have learned that turtles can and will climb if needed. Some do so for survival, adventure, escape, and various other reasons. While they have heavy bodies and could have some trouble lifting their bodies, their strong muscles can make it happen.

If your turtle keeps trying to escape its enclosure by climbing, check the environment to ensure it is suitable. Create more space, clean the water, or allow them more free time out of the enclosure to roam—depending on the problem.

• Related Read: Why Does My Turtle Stare at Me? 5 Likely Reasons

Featured Image Credit: Piqsels