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

[Maggie3fan]

A couple of months ago 2 of my box turtles escaped their pond and I was heartbroken. But I did all the suggested things...and I quietly looked daily. one morning I sat down on the cinder block surrounding the pond and just stared off and after about 20 minutes one of those large tufts of inedible grasses waved and juggled in the NO WIND!...yep...1 box turtle...alone hummm a lesson maybe...they obviously did not stay together, they don't like other turtles...3 more days nada.On the 4th day, at first sunrise I went down the steps into a tortoise pen where the torts were out basking...yep I bettcha that tiny tortoise over there is a species Terrapin ornata ornata....lol and it was. Do not ever give up cuz they get hungry and go back to their own territory...

 

[Chip's mom]

A couple of months ago 2 of my box turtles escaped their pond and I was heartbroken. But I did all the suggested things...and I quietly looked daily. one morning I sat down on the cinder block surrounding the pond and just stared off and after about 20 minutes one of those large tufts of inedible grasses waved and juggled in the NO WIND!...yep...1 box turtle...alone hummm a lesson maybe...they obviously did not stay together, they don't like other turtles...3 more days nada.On the 4th day, at first sunrise I went down the steps into a tortoise pen where the torts were out basking...yep I bettcha that tiny tortoise over there is a species Terrapin ornata ornata....lol and it was. Do not ever give up cuz they get hungry and go back to their own territory...

Thank you for sharing that story Maggie, that is wonderful to picture you sitting there and seeing the grass move with a box turtle in there! I have been much more present and mindful of looking around outside. Hopefully I too will see some grass move and find our lost tort! 😀

 

[Cathie G]

My Russian is hard to spot even in his outdoor enclosure. I once thought somehow someway he had gotten out which is almost impossible. I searched frantically and started feeling around in the larger plants He was wedged sideways in a large plantain plant. The dufess likes to air out his plastron now and then 😁🐢

 

[SinLA]

My Russian is hard to spot even in his outdoor enclosure. I once thought somehow someway he had gotten out which is almost impossible. I searched frantically and started feeling around in the larger plants He was wedged sideways in a large plantain plant. The dufess likes to air out his plastron now and then 😁🐢

been there, done that!

 

[MaNaAk]

A couple of months ago 2 of my box turtles escaped their pond and I was heartbroken. But I did all the suggested things...and I quietly looked daily. one morning I sat down on the cinder block surrounding the pond and just stared off and after about 20 minutes one of those large tufts of inedible grasses waved and juggled in the NO WIND!...yep...1 box turtle...alone hummm a lesson maybe...they obviously did not stay together, they don't like other turtles...3 more days nada.On the 4th day, at first sunrise I went down the steps into a tortoise pen where the torts were out basking...yep I bettcha that tiny tortoise over there is a species Terrapin ornata ornata....lol and it was. Do not ever give up cuz they get hungry and go back to their own territory...

😍

 

[Chip's mom]

😍

I love your story! That is truly incredible and inspiring. I will not give up. I'm hoping he is okay out there and chooses to come back home or is returned.

 

[Chip's mom]

We are still actively looking for Chip! Someone posted this tortoise spotted 8 miles away and he has a similar pyramiding (Chip was a rescue) and shell shape but I think the scute pattern is slightly different with this one having a little more yellow, and Chip has an arrowhead of yellow on his back scute near the tail.

The first 3 are Chip and the last 2 outdoors are the one spotted. The picture of the one spotted is bright / overexposed so I'm looking more at the pattern, What do you guys think?

 

[Chip's mom]

We are still actively looking for Chip! Someone posted this tortoise spotted 8 miles away and he has a similar pyramiding (Chip was a rescue) and shell shape but I think the scute pattern is slightly different with this one having a little more yellow, and Chip has an arrowhead of yellow on his back scute near the tail.

The first 3 are Chip and the last 2 outdoors are the one spotted. The picture of the one spotted is bright / overexposed so I'm looking more at the pattern, What do you guys think?

The most recent picture of Chip is the third one and was in July, he was lost the beginning of September. We are on the east coast US so it is now spring.

 

[ryan57]

Those last two photos aren't good.

 

[Chip's mom]

Those last two photos aren't good.

I know I wish they were better! Someone posted on one of my Facebook posts that this is the tortoise they saw walking and now I labelled the Chip ones properly... It seems to me that the one spotted has more yellow and doesn't have the arrow on the back going up from the tail, but the photo aren't great. I have a huge work presentation tomorrow and I'm trying to decide if it is enough like him to go searching. There isn't a great description of where this one was spotted. Thank you for any thoughts!

 

[Chip's mom]

I know I wish they were better! Someone posted on one of my Facebook posts that this is the tortoise they saw walking and now I labelled the Chip ones properly... It seems to me that the one spotted has more yellow and doesn't have the arrow on the back going up from the tail, but the photo aren't great. I have a huge work presentation tomorrow and I'm trying to decide if it is enough like him to go searching. There isn't a great description of where this one was spotted. Thank you for any thoughts!

 

[Chip's mom]

We are still actively looking for Chip! Someone posted this tortoise spotted 8 miles away and he has a similar pyramiding (Chip was a rescue) and shell shape but I think the scute pattern is slightly different with this one having a little more yellow, and Chip has an arrowhead of yellow on his back scute near the tail.

The first 3 are Chip and the last 2 outdoors are the one spotted. The picture of the one spotted is bright / overexposed so I'm looking more at the pattern, What do you guys think?

The person on Facebook just sent me better photos. Sadly I'm thinking it isn't Chip because this one has more yellow and the back part near the tail looks different...Not sure if that could change in 6 months?

 

[Chip's mom]

Those last two photos aren't good.

The person on Facebook just sent me these which are a little bit better... I think the back towards the tail looks different than Chip...

 

[ryan57]

I'd have to defer to experts that know if their pattern lightens as I have no experience with this species. We also have to overlook the possible lack of hydration if it is Chip.

 

[Chip's mom]

I'd have to defer to experts that know if their pattern lightens as I have no experience with this species. We also have to overlook the possible lack of hydration if it is Chip.

Thank you so much for responding. I'll be curious to hear what others think and if I'm going to skip work and a major presentation to go on a tortoise hunt in the morning!

 

[MaNaAk]

Dear @Chip's mom,

I actually think that it is possible the patterns on a tortoise's shell to fade in time. Jacky is a Greek Spur-thighed Tortoise and Daisy was also Greek Spur-thighed Tortoise. Jacky is 88 and Daisy was a 80 when she was put to sleep. Jacky has more black on her shell than Daisy did but looking at pictures of younger Greek Spur-thighed the markings are clearer. Also consider the ridges and the shell plates are they the same I sincerely this is Chip❤️🐢.

Natrah

 

[Chip's mom]

Dear @Chip's mom,

I actually think that it is possible the patterns on a tortoise's shell to fade in time. Jacky is a Greek Spur-thighed Tortoise and Daisy was also Greek Spur-thighed Tortoise. Jacky is 88 and Daisy was a 80 when she was put to sleep. Jacky has more black on her shell than Daisy did but looking at pictures of younger Greek Spur-thighed the markings are clearer. Also consider the ridges and the shell plates are they the same I sincerely this is Chip❤️🐢.

Natrah

 

[Chip's mom]

Oh wow, really? Then I'm going to go search that neighborhood and hand out flyers. It is 8 miles from our house which I think is very plausible bc he walked a ton. We once walked him on the beach and he went for almost a mile probably and wasn't even done walking. I

My other issue right now is that if it is not him but I find him I feel like I should get him since he's someone's pet and even if they released him I'd want to save him. I can't have my youngest son see him bc he is still so upset, crying regularly and missing him, I don't think he could take it to see one that looks so much like him.

 

[MaNaAk]

Oh wow, really? Then I'm going to go search that neighborhood and hand out flyers. It is 8 miles from our house which I think is very plausible bc he walked a ton. We once walked him on the beach and he went for almost a mile probably and wasn't even done walking. I

My other issue right now is that if it is not him but I find him I feel like I should get him since he's someone's pet and even if they released him I'd want to save him. I can't have my youngest son see him bc he is still so upset, crying regularly and missing him, I don't think he could take it to see one that looks so much like him.

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

Natrah

 

[Ink]

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.