You can’t see me! Rio, our education Eastern Box turtle likes to be incognito. When placing the leaves in her habitat, she charged out of the box to hide in the leaves. Turtles begin the process of hibernation in September,. Hibernation is essential, since needed foods are dying and unavailable until spring. Turtles hibernate 3-4 months. Only heathy turtles make it through winter. Sadly, most juvenile turtles never see their first spring.