Little is known about the movements and behavior of neonate eastern box turtles (Terrapene carolina carolina). We investigated spatial ecology of neonate eastern box turtles at 4 upland openings in the Manistee National Forest, Michigan, USA, 2012–2016. We protected nests and used radio‐telemetry to document dispersal from nests, land cover types used for overwintering, and residency time of neonates in natal openings. We used binomial logistic regression to model probabilities of overwintering in natal openings versus adjacent forest and edge. We protected 64 nests, radio‐fitted 64 neonates over 4 cohort years, tracked 46 neonates from nest emergence to their overwintering sites, and tracked 28 neonates for portions of their second activity season. Dispersal (straight‐line distance from nest to overwintering site) was limited in the first activity season (n = 46 neonates, truex¯ = 19.9 ± 2.4 m [SE], range = 1.9–83.2 m) and 24 overwintered in natal openings, 4 overwintered in the forest edge, and 18 overwintered in forest. Our best logistic model included the predictor variables distance from nest to nearest forest edge and day of nest emergence. Probability of overwintering within a natal opening was greater for neonates from nests located farther from the forest edge and for neonates emerging from nests later in the year. By 1 June of their second activity season, all tracked turtles were still present in, or within 50 m, of their natal opening, but all neonates had dispersed into surrounding forest or wetlands by 1 July. Managers should be aware that neonates reside in or very near their natal openings for several months after nest emergence. When burning or otherwise intensively managing open canopy box turtle nesting areas, relaxing the interval (yr) between treatments and excluding forest edge and adjacent forest should allow neonates time to disperse, decreasing risk of mortality. © 2018 The Wildlife Society.

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The United States Forest Service conducted an oak savanna restoration using thinning and prescribed burning in the Manistee National Forest in Michigan to provide additional habitat for species dependent on this rare community type, including the Karner blue butterfly (Lycaeides melissa samuelis). Because the Karner blue butterfly is a federally endangered species, managers cannot spray Bt‐k (Bacillus thurigiensis var kurstaki) in areas undergoing restoration to control exotic invasive defoliators, such as European gypsy moths (Lymantria dispar). Although gypsy moths are invasive in North America, several native predators, such as white‐footed mice (Peromyscus leucopus), other small mammals and invertebrates, help keep gypsy moth populations at nondestructive levels. The present study investigated whether the small mammal community and gypsy moth predation rates were affected by the type of mechanical forest thinning method (bulldozer, masticator, shear cutter) used during an oak savanna restoration at two sites in Michigan within the suppression zone in 2010 and 2011. Predation rates on gypsy moth pupae were higher in bulldozer and shear cutter thinned compared with control plots at both sites in 2010. White‐footed mice relative abundance was significantly higher in thinned compared with control plots at one site in 2010 and 2011. Thinning maintained or promoted white‐footed mice abundance, which will maintain or enhance predation on gypsy moth pupae during oak savanna restoration.