12 answers

What to Do with a Big Turtle or Tortoise?

Hi moms, we found a big turtle, or we think it's a tortoise (maybe a desert tortoise) probably about 8 inches long in our yard. I'm not exactly sure what type it is. We've asked around but belongs to no one. I've researched online and read something about it being endangered. I don't know much about taking care of turtles/tortoises. The local pet store told me to give it water, fruit, and veggies. I believe it's also illegal to sell endangered animals. I need advice as to who to call about picking up this turtle so that it can be set free in the proper environment. I just don't see it surviving well in a city environment. Please help this turtle out. Thanks!

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So What Happened?™

Thanks for all your help. I contacted Animal control inside city limits (which I thought my address belonged to but apparently not) then was referred to contact the county's Animal control. Both was not able to help because I was told by the county Animal Control that they only deal with dogs or cats. Then I called the SPCA, which they do not pick up. I then contacted the Turtle Tortoise Society and they have members who will receive them but will not pick up. They asked for pictures and identified the turtle as a male red eared slider and advised me to set it free to any watery/pond area since it is native to this area. At first, I couldn't think of any pond area, then I didn't feel totally comfortable with setting it in a nearby bayou since it might get eaten (I don't know). My husband works offshore and usually drives down to southern LA and I asked if he could set it free in the marsh but he said that people there would eat it. So that wouldn't work either. This past weekend, we accidently drove into a business parking lot and saw a huge man-made pond for ducks and turtles. There were so many of the same kind of turtles basking on the rocks on the side of the rocks, so we went home and set that turtle free at the pond. It walked to the pond and dove into the water. Unlike the other turtles, this one floated. I don't know if it was full of air or all dried up and needed to soak up some more before it could sink. I'm sure it'll be okay. Thanks everyone.

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No area zoo will take the animal. But I know that the FW Zoo has numbers that you can call and get the animal taken care of.

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If you have a zoo in your area, that might be a good place to call. They might have an area made close to its natural habitat so that it can thrive. Good Luck!

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Contact Barbara @ http://pets. groups.yahoo. com/group/ DFWTurtleandTort oiseClub/
They will get it & provide a great home. Please keep me posted. Good luck!

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call the wildlife or the zoo if it is endangered they will know what to do and where the turtle/tortoise should go be keep me up to date would like to know how it turns out. hope this helps.

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you can call animal control. we found one also one day in our yard when i was watering the lawn. animal control will come to your house and pick it up and return it to a natural habitat or take care of it themselves. the one we found was really old so animal control was going to keep it there and put it in a tank or something.

hope that helps

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Are you sure it is not a box turtle? They resemble a tortoise and are native to our area. They grow to the size you describe.

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I dont know if you still have the turtle, however, I just wanted to point out to you that small children should not play with them. Turtles, like many other reptiles, carry salmonella. It would be like they were playing with a piece of raw chicken. So, if you have lil' ones, look, dont touch!!!!
M.
P.S. Armond Bayou Nature Walk in Clear Lake will take it. They are on the East end of Bay Area Blvd. Past University of Houston/Clear Lake.

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Did you try the zoo? Turtles are wandering creatures and often travel miles from where they started. Many years ago I helped my husband do his master's thesis on the common box turtle. We kept a very large turtle in a fairly deep fountain area and when he didn't seem to be eating, the zoo was very helpful. Perhaps the folks at Dallas Fair Park could help also. They have quite a reptile exhabition.
Good luck and keep your fingers away!
C. S.

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No area zoo will take the animal. But I know that the FW Zoo has numbers that you can call and get the animal taken care of.

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