Why this turtle is walking on cement is beyond me. We have plenty of water in the backyard. Yesterday while driving I saw people stop when a crazy turtle tried to cross the road and we all waited and he lived. NICE!
Remember if you are getting them out of the road - take them in the direction they are heading - or they will just cross the road again..I have stopped for many a turtle!! Don't think this one looks like the box turtles I have seen - but then again, maybe there are different varieties in different areas of the country!
Laurie, your Quincy is a handsome specimen and his markings are absolutely gorgeous!! Sherrie, go track down your guy and get him all cleaned up - underneath all that algae is a real hunk just waiting to be discovered!!! ;~)
Thanks for all your kind words for my Quincy, I have since taken in 2 rescue turtles from a friend in college whose dorm will not let her keep them. They are 2 yellow belly sliders she bought in daytona beach, so she named them Dayna and Tony. They are in a different aquarium than Quincy, we tried putting them together but Quincy stopped eating. So Sherry did you keep the turtle or find out what kind it is? It doesn't appear to be a box turtle the shell isn't the same.
Laurie B, no I did not keep my turtle since he has 2 acres, plenty of shelter, food and a small lake in my yard & the neighboring yards are also quite large. I don't know what kind of turtle I had but I know he'll be back. I have seen over 10 turtles on a log on the little lake behind my home. Please post pics for Dayna & Tony & don't forget baby red ear slider.
Sherrie - earlier in the summer my daughter's future f-i-l caught an enormous turtle in their pond. They put it in a large tub and then he relocated it to a public lake close by. He was eating all the fish in their pond. I only had my phone camera so didn't get a good picture but this guy was something else!!
Susan S, I never worried about turtles eating fish in my pond because I wasn't aware of the possible problem but now the fish are big enough to take care of themselves. I feed them well.
Laurie - yeah I know - sorry 'bout that. I didn't know I was going to be introduced to him or I would have taken my real camera. I just know he was one big guy!!
Ok, last but not least, I have a new addition, he just arrived today, flown in from Florida., Please meet Baby Baxter he is a Mississippi Map Turtle!!! So excited!!!
Laurie, why are we sending our turtles out of Florida? I really don't know enough about them but really love seeing them in my yard. You baby is so very cute.
Laurie - wow - he is absolutely gorgeous!! The markings look like artwork!! Wish I had a resin turtle that I could paint to look like him!! Did you see my turtle post of my yard figurines? They were just for fun - NOT trying to imitate reality!!
Laurie B, I agree that YOUR baby Baxter is beautiful but I wonder why we in Florida don't keep him here but you stated he is a Mississippi Map turtle. Does that mean he is a runaway from Mississippi?
No Sherrie, I understand your concern., these are turtles that are born into captivity and raised and then sold by breeders, no different than a dog breeder. There are so many wild turtles and they need to stay wild. Like the one you found., had you decided to keep it? I am sure it would have never made it. And no, Baxter isn't a runaway., he was born into captivity by a loving home who will only sell to people like me who will care and love them as pets and not turn them loose into ponds after years of captivity because of size.
Susan S., he is beautiful and I will check out your yardwork, you are more than welcome to paint a picture of him., let me know if I can send you any photos. He is an absolute love!!!
Laurie, bear in mind, mine were whimsical and just for fun. Clearly not intended to be representative of a real turtles colorations in any way.
I have a question though. If a turtle such as the one Sherrie saw should definitely be left alone and not attempted to be domesticated then the ones that are raised to be pets should likewise not be set free to fend for themselves? Is that what I'm understanding? I happen to know Sherrie is
...»
an avid animal activist and has the best interest first and foremost of all the wild creatures she comes across on her property. You'll never have to worry about her!!
Yes Susan, that is absolutely correct. That is why it is so important that people realize oh the cute little female turtle the size of a quarter that you can purchase in pet shops around the world, will not stay little and females grow larger than males. Often topping out between 9 and 12 inches. Well then they don't want them anymore and are put into ponds, lakes, etc. I suppose being of a large size they may be able to adjust, but are used to being fed sometimes hand fed every day to
...»
now having to find their own food. I know It is crazy. To me they are the most perfect animal.!!
Laurie - I think you are exactly right. People buy cute "little" whatever the animal or reptile is and they don't stop to think - OH, this guy's gonna grow and potentially get much bigger. Then they have a problem. It also doesn't occur to them that they have no idea how to forage for their own food and it doesn't just come naturally if they've always been hand fed.
Laurie B & Susan S, yes people do buy or capture living wildlife and then realize they don't want it so they get rid of it by whatever means. I believe in providing food, shelter and safety to wildlife and letting them live as naturally as they can. Nature takes care of them & that is called the laws of nature. We can't control it.
You're right Sherrie - we were only talking about the pets people buy, then discard. There's absolutely nothing wrong w/supplementing the food sources of the "wild things" that reside along side of us. It's no different that putting out nectar for the hummers or birdseed for wild birds!!
My turtle needs a bath so I can see his real color. Right now it is algae colored & he is hiding out somewhere.
Susan S, I'd love to see the colors but he will have to bathe himself.
I have a question though. If a turtle such as the one Sherrie saw should definitely be left alone and not attempted to be domesticated then the ones that are raised to be pets should likewise not be set free to fend for themselves? Is that what I'm understanding? I happen to know Sherrie is ...»