Tortoise walked away outside-- any ideas to attract him back?

[SinLA]

I think you should at least check it out. And if this guy/gal needs a home, maybe consider its meant to be

 

[Chip's mom]

I would check it out. Maybe someone picked it up closer to you and gave it to this person. If you don't check it out I think you might regret it.

Thank you! The woman posted the siting but didn't pick him up because it is near a park and she thought he was wild. I was there all morning and didn't spot him but handed out flyers, and I think I'll go back now and post flyers if they'll let me at restaurants and on phone poles. It has been 8 months and it is 8 miles and he is a big walker so I think it's possible he could walk that far.

Here are some more photos I found of Chip's shell and the one found outside. I want to find this one to see in person. They do look very close! I wonder how similar Eastern Hermann's look to each other. Chip has the distinctive pyramiding (was like that when we got him) and this spotted one seems to as well.

 

[Chip's mom]

I think you should at least check it out. And if this guy/gal needs a home, maybe consider its meant to be

Someone posted a spotting but didn't get the tortoise. I walked around for 2 hours looking and put flyers in mailboxes. I think I'll go look more. It's a 20 minute drive! But it has been 8 months and he loves walking a ton.

 

[Chip's mom]

I hope @Tom or @Yvonne G sees this thread so that they can offer their advice.

Natrah

Thank you! I've decided that this one looks enough like him to do a full search and flying of that area, but I am curious if others think that it is him.

 

[Chip's mom]

I hope @Tom or @Yvonne G sees this thread so that they can offer their advice.

Natrah

I remember both of their advises from before and I got there first thing in the morning and also went down at eye level and felt around. It is a huge area in a neighborhood so I think flying is one of the best bets. I am going to look again though.

 

[Ink]

Maybe borrow a drone with live feed? Regardless if it is Chip, he should be in the wild. So you should take him home.

 

[Megatron's Mom]

I'm far from knowing anything about this type of tortoise, but the pictures to me look very much like it could be Chip. Good luck I hope you find him and can see in person if it truly is Chip or not. This little guy needs a safe space too.

 

[Cathie G]

I hope to see soon that you have found Chip 😊🤞 It looks like you're getting close. 😘

 

[MaNaAk]

I hope to see soon that you have found Chip 😊🤞 It looks like you're getting close. 😘

Same here.

Natrah

 

[Cathie G]

🤞🤞🤞🤞😘🐰🤗🙏

 

[Chip's mom]

Maybe borrow a drone with live feed? Regardless if it is Chip, he should be in the wild. So you should take him home.

I agree. I wish the woman who spotted him got him. I know it's so confusing for people who don't know turtles/ tortoises well. We have native turtles here so they assume he's wild and leave him. I am glad she posted as it has given us hope!

 

[Chip's mom]

🤞🤞🤞🤞😘🐰🤗🙏

Thank you! We do have hope!

 

[Chip's mom]

Same here.

Natrah

That is so kind, thank you. Feels close but far. I looked for him most of the day, passed out flyers and posted in all the Facebook groups in that community. I already posted in all the lost pet groups which is how someone sent me the picture the woman posted. I wish I knew if it was really him. One of my sons is optimistic, another is skeptical that it is him, and the third is sad because he wants him home.

 

[Chip's mom]

I'm far from knowing anything about this type of tortoise, but the pictures to me look very much like it could be Chip. Good luck I hope you find him and can see in person if it truly is Chip or not. This little guy needs a safe space too.

Those are my thoughts exactly, so I'm trying everything. Called out of work today for a full search!

 

[MaNaAk]

Those are my thoughts exactly, so I'm trying everything. Called out of work today for a full search!

I would try the local vets and pet shops again.


Natrah

 

[Chip's mom]

I would try the local vets and pet shops again.


Natrah

Good idea. There is a vet right near where he was spotted so I called them yesterday.

 

[Chip's mom]

Does anyone know if the light lines on a shell can get bigger or fill in to form a solid area? We've analyzed the shell patterns and the tortoise spotted has a few more yellow patches, which Chip doesn't have, but he has thin yellow lines in those areas.

He has been out for 8.5 months, so he has gotten a lot of sun. First 2 pictures are Chip to show the thin yellow line that would have had to grow on the one spotted. Many yellow patches are a little bigger on the one spotted.

 

[Chip's mom]

Does anyone know if the light lines on a shell can get bigger or fill in to form a solid area? We've analyzed the shell patterns and the tortoise spotted has a few more yellow patches, which Chip doesn't have, but he has thin yellow lines in those areas.

He has been out for 8.5 months, so he has gotten a lot of sun. First 2 pictures are Chip to show the thin yellow line that would have had to grow on the one spotted. Many yellow patches are a little bigger on the one spotted.

I am thinking yes because our baby Russians is the reverse (light with dark stripes) and the stripes and dark patches have become thicker and more prominent.

 

[MaNaAk]

Dear @Chip's mom,

Don't forget that Chip might some damage to his shell due to wherever he's been. Daisy ended up losing a chip of shell because she wedged herself under the fence whilst trying to 'visit' our neighbour!

Natrah 🐢🐢

 

[Chip's mom]

Dear @Chip's mom,

Don't forget that Chip might some damage to his shell due to wherever he's been. Daisy ended up losing a chip of shell because she wedged herself under the fence whilst trying to 'visit' our neighbour!

Natrah 🐢🐢

Oh boy! Yes, that is a good point and we'll definitely keep it in mind. I hope we can locate this one to see if it's him or help him. I've posted everywhere. Fingers crossed!