PONCA — Prairie and Flower may lack the physical stature of the larger reptiles living in Ponca State Park's Resource Education Center, but they now hold an elevated status over their roommates.

With the help of Boykin spaniels who sniff out ornate box turtles hiding in prairie grass, researchers are able to monitor turtle health. They say the turtles are sentinels of environmental and ...

FRANKLIN, Ill. — For nearly 50 years, the ornate box turtle has been endangered or threatened. Highly sought after as pets, they're even poached and traded on the black market. Conservationists are ...

Abby is a turtle. Not just any turtle, but an ornate box turtle, which is considered endangered. That’s why Deja Johnston, a student at SIUE, was so excited when she found Abby’s 18 friends living on ...