Curtis has gone missing

DesertGirl

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Dec 5, 2017
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366
Location (City and/or State)
Fabulous Las Vegas, NV
Curtis, my 12 inch Sulcata, has been missing for at least 24 hours. I last saw him on Sunday, when I came out and gave him some Mazuri, and noticed he was missing yesterday. I’ve looked for him all of last night and today (stayed home from school to look), and have not seen any sign of him.

He was given an entire yard to himself about 3 weeks ago, and I thought for sure the yard was secure enough. However, he is nowhere to be found inside the enclosure, and I cannot find him anywhere else on our heavily wooded property.

I’ve checked Facebook marketplace, Craigslist, Letgo, and offerup for any possible thieves, but have seen nothing for listings under “Tortoise”, “turtle”, and “Sulcata”, as well as general listings around my location.

I’ve also gotten the “nextdoor” app, and made a post there. I am about to print missing posters, and put them up around the block.

Does anyone have tips for finding him? It’s very cold out and going to go one degree below freezing tomorrow night, and it’s going to start raining in an hour or two until tomorrow evening. Will he survive this?

I am also very worried about him finding the creek on our property, and the busy road right in front of our house. We don’t have any close neighbors besides the neighborhood across that road.

It is not going to be above 60 degrees until the weekend.
Yes, get the kids involved if any are around you. Our ancient cat got lost several years ago. We saw a kid and asked if he’d seen a black cat. He said no. In 5 minutes there were about 15 kids looking for her. Found 5 minutes later. Really hoping the best for your “little” guy.
 

TysonC

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Feb 14, 2020
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Orlando
Maybe the local PD has tracker that wouldn't mind a little unusual training? Good Luck

Speaking as a LEO, for those experiencing an escaped tort, this is a great idea.

Though no agency will utilize an apprehension K9 for this purpose, bloodhounds need this kind of unconventional training. It may be a bit of an extended time lapse for a true track but I wouldn’t rule this out.

If your local PD doesn’t have bloodhounds the jail or prison will.
 

DesertGirl

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Fabulous Las Vegas, NV
A little suggestion from left field- you wouldn't happen to know someone with a tracking dog? Tort don't have sweat glands like us stinky humans but do have enough of a scent a dog could track. Maybe the local PD has tracker that wouldn't mind a little unusual training? Good Luck
Interesting idea!
 

TammyJ

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Jamaica
Is it at all possible that he may have found his way into your house? Or your garage, outside shed, tool shed, anything like that that he may have gone to get warm?
Really, really hope he turns up!
 

TechnoCheese

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Is it at all possible that he may have found his way into your house? Or your garage, outside shed, tool shed, anything like that that he may have gone to get warm?
Really, really hope he turns up!
The only way up to our house and garage are tall stairs, but I have checked the garage just in case.
 

Sa Ga

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Nov 19, 2019
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653
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MN
Oh I am so sorry this is happening to you! I know how terrible it feels when they go missing.
One thing that I did when my Diego escaped was to hire a woman and her tracking dog. Her dog participated in tracking events where they locate small hidden animals (usually a mouse in a cage). It's a common hobbie so you might be able to find a group in your area.
Her dog didn't find Diego but was on his trail for awhile. He was finally found a mile away and in the direction the dog had led us. I was willing to try anything as I'm sure you are too.
Good luck!
That is an EXCELLENT suggestion! I'm going to check into that in case I ever need it!!!
 

Sa Ga

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I have a “Tile” gps locator tag, she’s an 8 ish years old. I’m in AZ for the winter, but when I go back to MN in the first part of April, I’ll put her in the Dogs area (150 X 200). I’ll glue it to her shell
@Obbie , you live in MN? I so want to have like a meetup group for tortoise lovers! I think it'd be really fun and educational to meet up with other tort lovers!!!

Anyone else from MN? Private message me and maybe we could coordinate a group to meet up every so often!
 

Warren

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This isn’t my tort but it breaks my heart almost brings me to tears . I’m keeping hope and faith that you find him safe and well .
I'm sorry to hear about the disappearance of you tortise, I been reading this most of the day hoping that your tortise would show up. I lost my Sulcata for ten minutes and I was going crazy, I lost one of my cats one evening and I looked for hour into the night. I was lucky to fine her up the alley hiding under a shed scared to death, my cats are house cats. I will say a prayer hoping that he will be be found. I read earlier that a comment was made that if some people on this forum lived a little closer to you so that they would be there searching until he was found. I'm sure you would have a large search party with all these nice and loving people on this forum. Goodluck
 

Sa Ga

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@TechnoCheese , any good news??? (At first thought, I would of course think you'd tell us, but then again if it was me and Morla....I think I'd be too busy holding her tight and !)

Stupid question, but as I looked at your pic of his house, did you check under it? Could he have dug a hiding spot under it?

How long has he been gone? Which things have you now tried? Has it truly reached really cold temps?
 

TechnoCheese

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@TechnoCheese , any good news??? (At first thought, I would of course think you'd tell us, but then again if it was me and Morla....I think I'd be too busy holding her tight and !)

Stupid question, but as I looked at your pic of his house, did you check under it? Could he have dug a hiding spot under it?

How long has he been gone? Which things have you now tried? Has it truly reached really cold temps?
No good news yet, but the entire section under and around his nightbox is concrete :)
 

Sa Ga

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MN
No good news yet, but the entire section under and around his nightbox is concrete :)
Well, they're strong, but...even that might be a little too ambitious... Have you gotten a chance to try any of ppl's suggestions? Let us know how they went (I realize he's not back yet....but sometimes you realize just in set up/implementation of an idea, that it will/won't work bc of something or other. Would be good to hear of your experiences! )

Still praying for your little guy! ??❤
 

TechnoCheese

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I have some somewhat good news! I contacted a searching dog agency called Dogs Finding Dogs, and they just called me back! They’re all the way up in Maryland, but they have a lady that travels all over and sometimes comes to Texas who may be able to help me. I may get a call tonight from her!
 

Heckhaven

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Joined
Dec 10, 2017
Messages
39
Location (City and/or State)
Lake Charles, Louisiana
Curtis, my 12 inch Sulcata, has been missing for at least 24 hours. I last saw him on Sunday, when I came out and gave him some Mazuri, and noticed he was missing yesterday. I’ve looked for him all of last night and today (stayed home from school to look), and have not seen any sign of him.

He was given an entire yard to himself about 3 weeks ago, and I thought for sure the yard was secure enough. However, he is nowhere to be found inside the enclosure, and I cannot find him anywhere else on our heavily wooded property.

I’ve checked Facebook marketplace, Craigslist, Letgo, and offerup for any possible thieves, but have seen nothing for listings under “Tortoise”, “turtle”, and “Sulcata”, as well as general listings around my location.

I’ve also gotten the “nextdoor” app, and made a post there. I am about to print missing posters, and put them up around the block.

Does anyone have tips for finding him? It’s very cold out and going to go one degree below freezing tomorrow night, and it’s going to start raining in an hour or two until tomorrow evening. Will he survive this?

I am also very worried about him finding the creek on our property, and the busy road right in front of our house. We don’t have any close neighbors besides the neighborhood across that road.

It is not going to be above 60 degrees until the weekend.
 

Heckhaven

Member
Joined
Dec 10, 2017
Messages
39
Location (City and/or State)
Lake Charles, Louisiana
Curtis, my 12 inch Sulcata, has been missing for at least 24 hours. I last saw him on Sunday, when I came out and gave him some Mazuri, and noticed he was missing yesterday. I’ve looked for him all of last night and today (stayed home from school to look), and have not seen any sign of him.

He was given an entire yard to himself about 3 weeks ago, and I thought for sure the yard was secure enough. However, he is nowhere to be found inside the enclosure, and I cannot find him anywhere else on our heavily wooded property.

I’ve checked Facebook marketplace, Craigslist, Letgo, and offerup for any possible thieves, but have seen nothing for listings under “Tortoise”, “turtle”, and “Sulcata”, as well as general listings around my location.

I’ve also gotten the “nextdoor” app, and made a post there. I am about to print missing posters, and put them up around the block.

Does anyone have tips for finding him? It’s very cold out and going to go one degree below freezing tomorrow night, and it’s going to start raining in an hour or two until tomorrow evening. Will he survive this?

I am also very worried about him finding the creek on our property, and the busy road right in front of our house. We don’t have any close neighbors besides the neighborhood across that road.

It is not going to be above 60 degrees until the weekend.
Have you really looked close at the ground to see if he has burrowed down? I have had my 3 - 12 to 14" - dig down and leaving the top soil/grass looking like it was not touched. If it is that cold - he might have dug down to get warm. What kind of fence surrounds the area? Wood, Chainlink. etc? Really check around the bottom of the fencing to see if any loose soil or holes under the fence. Put your foot down next to the fence all around the fencing to see if you can feel a low or soft spot - they are good at digging down and covering back up. Good luck Also, if your area has a newspaper - normally they will have a "lost & found section - put a notice in. And, check with your Animal Control to see if someone called them and any pet store in your area. Many finders will call Pet shops, city Animal control, and any Veterinarian in the area.
 
Last edited:

Sa Ga

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Nov 19, 2019
Messages
653
Location (City and/or State)
MN
I have some somewhat good news! I contacted a searching dog agency called Dogs Finding Dogs, and they just called me back! They’re all the way up in Maryland, but they have a lady that travels all over and sometimes comes to Texas who may be able to help me. I may get a call tonight from her!
Good!!! Keep us posted!!! ???
 
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