I would have left them alone. Sometimes in our zeal to "protect" wildlife, we are interfering.

Now, you are stuck with them until spring. Get a nice heat lamp, some turtle food, and enjoy until spring thaw is all done.

Next year, just leave them alone. If they were emerging, something was causing them to stir. Would have been best to just observe them.

I was just worried the early frosts last fall, and LATE spring this years created a situation where they just couldn't hibernate that long....(?)

These are not turtles found in this area- I really doubt in the wild they hibernate for 6+ months.

And one for sure had run out of energy, when I poked it with a stick it didn't even move, I assumed it dead until pulled from the water.

What about one of those cheap plastic kiddie wading pools? Wouldn't have to be very big, but you could put it in your garage or basement with some rocks to climb on (in the middle, so they couldn't climb over the edge) and a heat lamp for basking.

Thanks yeah- I'm just on my way out for a big rubbermaid bin. My place is way too small for anything else, but with a lamp/rock etc I'm sure they'll be fine.

I sure didn't want turtles IN the house, darn it anyways!!!

When I was a kid I used to play around the ponds in the winter.When the ice was thick enough to support my weight, I would walk out on it and could see turtles under the ice. They would move up to the shallows and bask in the warm sunlight that penetrated the ice. If my shadow was cast upon them they would very slowly swim to the deeper section of the pond and disappear into the darkness.
It made me wonder if they ever actually hibernated, or if they just lived in slow motion as it became too cold for normal activity. By the way can any of you explain what "Normal Activity" is? Haha

Very interesting Garbird. Thanks for adding that!

Dirtslinger, below are a few URL's, links to information on Red Eared Slider turtles that maybe of help to you.
From what I read it seems quite normal for them to come out of the water on sunny days .
Anyway you can have a look at the info for yourself.
Good luck with the turtles.
"Horton"

http://turtle_tails.tripod.com/raisingbabyturtles/tour11.htm

http://library.thinkquest.org/TQ0312800/turtle.htm

http://www.science.mcmaster.ca/Biology/Harbour/SPECIES/TURTLE/RED-EAR/ECOLOGY/BEHAVIOR/BEHAVIOR.HTM

I think its natural for red eared sliders to end their hibernation in March. The weather usually warms by early spring in the areas where they naturally exist. I donÂt believe red eared sliders can remain in hibernation for an extended period of time.