Desert Boxie Hybernation.

Question
QUESTION: I have been an owner of 4 desert box turtles for over 4 years. This year, I built a 20' X 20' enclosure outside.  I placed them in it around September.  I know they normally hibernate in the wild but have not hibernated, (at lest for very long) while indoors.  I built burrows about 6 or so inches from the surface and around 14 inches deep.  They all live in these burrows and eat regularly.  Their diets consist of apples, strawberries, mealworms, and wild-caught beetles and grasshoppers.  The temp is around 85 in the day and around 40-50 at night. They bask every morning and are enjoying life.  My QUESTION, (finally), Do I continue to feed or shall I stop feeding to keep them from entering hibernation with a gut full of food?  I heard from other resources that feeding should stop two weeks or so before hibernation, but only for turts placed into hibernation chambers.  What should I do in this matter?  Should I keep feeding as long as they show an interest?  Will nature take it's course in regards to them knowing when to evacuate their system before hibernation?  Days are getting shorter and a bit cooler and I'm worried for their safety.
Thank You for your time.

ANSWER: Armando,

Where do you live (city, state)?

-Amanda

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QUESTION: Sorry I was unable to respond sooner but your site was unable to accept responses or new Q's.  Anyhow, I live in the Douglas/Bisbee area in the Southeast Arizona corner.  In the southern portion of the sulphur springs valley.  The Desert Box Turtle does occur here naturally.  Happy to say that the desert box turtle is now protected here as of January 2005.  Hope to hear from you soon "Amanda".
Thanks for your response.
aa

ANSWER: I am so jealous of your burrows!  I wish I could build my turtles burrows, but it would be a waste of time since I live in Seattle and they can't be outside more that a couple months in the summer.

Here is a link about hibernating box turtles:
http://www.boxturtlesite.info/hib.html

But first, I want to say that hibernating box turtles is tricky.  I do not hibernate them.  The risk, in my opinion, does not outweigh the benefits, if there are any.

That being said, I do not think 6 inches is deep enough.  I just looked at a chart of the weather in your area, and it looks like it gets below freezing in the winter at night there.  Have you researched the depth you'll need to achieve?  For one thing, it depends on how you've build your burrows.  If there is not enough cover, even a very deep burrow will frost.

I'm not trying to scare you, I'm just letting you know that while hibernation may be natural, it is not safe.

That being said, let your turtles decide when to stop eating.  As long as the temperature is dropping naturally outside (and they are outside even during the day) at a certain point they will stop eating.  So my answer is no, do not stop feeding them or giving them water.  Give them plenty of water especially!

Now I have to say this.  You might want to skip hibernating this year and use it as on opportunity to test the burrows you build.  Find an appropriate thermometer and leave it in the burrows overnight.  Check it at the coldest part of the night in late December and early January.  If it gets anywhere near freezing (I'd say NOT below 42 degrees - just to be safe)then you'll have to dig deeper, or modify the design somehow.

Check on your turtles regularly (maybe once every week or two) to make sure they are OK.

Now, again, I DO NOT HIBERNATE my box turtle and I cannot recommend it.  Not because it's bad, necessarily, but like I said, it is risky.  However, your winters are shorter that mine are, so it may be safer for your turtles than it is for mine.

-Amanda

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QUESTION: Does the need to hibernate only apply to Tortoise?  Also, I can thicken the ceiling form 6-8 inches to around 16 inches atop the burrows as the fill is on plywood.  I can send you a picture of the burrow system if you like.  I also have a suspicion that the boxies are burrowing further in from what I built them because they emerge with some soil atop their shells.  They have been staying in on cool days and emerge on warm days, although one of my turtles has yet to emerge since the middle of October.  She is my female.  She was in for about three weeks before I saw her in October.  Thanks for the excellent advice.  I can tell that your heart and mind is committed to these wonderful creatures.
aa

Answer
Armando,

I'm a little confused by your question, 'Does the need to hibernate only apply to Tortoise?'  Tortoises are not box turtles, so I'm confused.  Do you have tortoises as well?

As long as your turtles are able to burrow in farther than they need to, they should be fine.  I'm not sure what you mean about fill being on plywood.  If you want to send me a picture, that'd be good.  I'm very curious as to what they look like.