The animal on the cover of Windows PowerShell Cookbook is a box turtle (Terrapene
carolina carolina). This box turtle is native to North America, specifically northern
areas in the Unites States and northern parts of Mexico. The average male turtle is
about six inches long and has red eyes; the female is a bit smaller and has yellow
eyes. This turtle is omnivorous as a youth but largely herbivorous as an adult. It has a domed shell that is hinged on the bottom and snaps tightly shut if the turtle is in
danger (once its head, tail, and limbs are safely inside). Box turtles usually stay
within the same area they were born, rarely leaving a 750 foot radius. During mating rituals, male turtles will sometimes shove and push each other to win the female's attention. During copulation, it is possible for the male turtle to fall backward, be unable to right himself, and starve to death.
Although box turtles can live for more than 100 years, their habitats are being seriously threatened by land development and roads. Turtles need loose, humid soil to lay eggs and burrow during their long hibernation season. Box turtles are also highly susceptible to contracting diseases from household pets. Experts strongly discourage taking turtles from their native habitat-not only will it disrupt the community's breeding opportunities, but the turtle will become extremely stressed when outside of its known habitat and perish quickly.
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