Your guess seems correct, but I am no expert and it is certainly possible that both have some intergradation in them, making identity even more complex. Perhaps you can use this link to help confirm an ID..... Here is a link that might be useful: Box Turtle subspecies

Funny meeting you here bigthicketgardens! :) I love butterflies the best, but I still enjoy all of nature. The snake wasn't real long, probably about 3' - 4 long - I've seen these before, some that were bigger, and some that were smaller and blue! speckled with white. I feel sure that this is a speckled king snake, but I'm not sure at all about the little turtle. I've never seen a box turtle with red on its back like this baby, and it doesn't really match any of the pictures in my field guide - maybe I need more than one field guide. I'm happy to post pictures, Mary Ann - there's nothing I like better than making pictures of the wildlife I love so! Sherry

How large is your berry bed? The best option would be to place a short (12 inches) wooden or brick barrier around the bed to keep the turtles out but you could easily step over. The turtles are not able to climb a slick upright surface. You will not find a repellent. The turtles could push aside a net fence, but would not have eaten through a fence. What you are describing is unusual behavior for box turtles. The box turtle is facing a losing battle of habitat loss and is protected in most of its range. Slow sexual maturity, small egg clutches, high hatchling mortality, and fast cars make survival a questionable end result. Consider sharing your berries. Are you sure that box turtles are your main culprit? They will eat berries, to be sure, but a whole patch? Box turtles are not herding animals. They are solitary except to breed. My guess is that birds or other creatures may also be taking a share, especially if you are missing raspberries: the box turtles could only eat those within a few inches of the ground.

I'm no expert on box turtles and I don't know how much an issue hibernation is in your part of Texas. I do know from writing about found wild reptiles that removing them from their home range can be a death sentence once winter arrives . Unable to locate their usual hubernation area - according to the herpetologists I have spoken to (I was once a newspaper reporter) - a snake or turtle will continue to search for their usual hibernation spot until they finally die from exposure. A good cage and long life might beat a few more months of freedom. You might try posting the question on the "field herp forum" and see what help you can get. I think most of the experts are posting on that site. Best of luck