Turtle believed to be more than 100 years old found on farm

NEW BEDFORD, Ohio (AP) — A box turtle believed to be more than 100 years old was found alive in a cornfield on an Ohio farm.

The average lifespan of a box turtle is 50 years, but some of them live for more than 100 years.

Abe Yoder told The Times-Reporter of New Philadelphia (http://bit.ly/1iJquDX) that his son, John Yoder, found the turtle on the New Bedford farm while he was helping a neighbor shuck corn.

The turtle had the date 1911 carved on the underside of its shell. The initials “V.F” were carved next to the date and Yoder said they likely belong to Victor Fender, who had lived on a Holmes County Road farm and died in 1985.

There were also initials that Yoder said likely belonged to Henry Troyer, who owned Fender’s farm in 1983.

Yoder said box turtles are found in fields and in the woods throughout the area. When he finds a turtle, he said he always checks to see if anyone carved their initials on it.

“This area is rich in a history of carving on box turtles,” Yoder said.

Another turtle was found with Fender’s initials carved on it two years ago, but there was no date.

He said they plan to put the turtle back where it was found. He said he doubts that anyone would find it again.

“Finding it again might be like finding a needle in a haystack.”

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Information from: The Times Reporter, http://www.timesreporter.com