‘This is a horrible idea’: Turtle expert blasts pet owners for forcing their turtles into something they are meant to do on their own

A self-described turtle expert is making huge waves online, begging pet owners to stop forcibly burying their turtles outside for the winter. Dan, who goes by @dantheturtleman, posted an impassioned public service announcement on TikTok that has already racked up over 1.7 million views, causing millions of people to rethink how they handle their reptiles’ winter sleep cycle.

Dan’s video stitches a clip from another creator who showed herself burying two box turtles in her backyard soil for the winter months. Dan immediately reacted, calling the practice a “horrible idea.” He emphasizes that while the goal is to keep the turtles warm during the cold season, the crucial detail is to let the animal control the process. Eastern box turtles naturally bury themselves when winter arrives, and they need to be able to choose when to start and when to finish that long sleep.

I would say the biggest problem with forced burial is that it completely removes the turtle’s autonomy. As Dan explains, when you bury them, you aren’t giving them a choice. You send them down into the dirt, and then you have to pull them back up later, regardless of whether or not they’re actually ready to wake up. Forcing them to start or end brumation, which is what reptile hibernation is called, before their body is ready, could lead to serious negative health impacts.

It’s a serious risk to the lives of the pet turtles

If your turtle is having trouble burying itself in the soil naturally, Dan suggests a much safer technique he calls “buffered brumation.” This method still encourages the natural winter process without exposing the animal to the harsh, uncontrollable conditions outside. He keeps his own pet turtles in a room that he makes much colder than usual, but it’s still warmer than the freezing outdoor temperatures. Crucially, he gives them a large tub of dirt so they can bury themselves whenever they feel the urge.

This buffered technique sounds like a decent compromise. It respects the turtle’s natural instincts while keeping them secure from predators or temperature swings that could be lethal if they were just left outside. It’s important to remember that they know better than we do when it’s time to crash out for the season.

Other turtle owners chimed in to share their own successful brumation methods, many of which mirrored Dan’s buffered approach. One person shared that they simply plopped their turtles into a big tub full of dirt, and the turtles did exactly what they needed to do. They then just kept the tub in the garage over the winter, noting that this was much easier than digging a hole. That sounds akin to the dog who might not be too pleased at you leaving the house.

It’s clear that whether you use a cold room, a garage, or even an old pair of slippers, the key takeaway from the expert is simple: let your reptile choose. If you’re an owner, you should provide the materials and the safe environment, but you absolutely shouldn’t force the start or the end of the brumation cycle. It sounds like Dan has convinced a huge number of people that when it comes to winter sleep, your turtle, just like man’s “best friend” pet, deserves to be the one calling the shots.