Looking for way to tell if tortoise comes out of borrow during the day.

JohnnyB65

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I believe my Desert Tortoise is hibernating but somethings been drinking the water and eating his food. His food bowl has been completely empty and I have been keeping his water bowl full just in case. I noticed a few days ago that it was wet all around his bowl as if he climbed through it so I put out a little food. The food is gone today and I now believe the birds are splashing the water around although I’m not sure about the food.

I just noticed that a ground squirrel has dug a hole under a shed into the tortoise compound. I want to leave the gate open for the dogs so they can chase the squirrel away but I need to be sure the tortoise is in for the winter.

I have not seen the tortoise in over a week (not really sure how long), but it’s been so warm during the day lately that I’m just not sure.

Anyway I’m wondering if there is something that I can lay inside the burrow that would move to indicate whether he came out. The only problem is that ground squirrel because it could also be going into the burrow.
 

Anyfoot

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Put some fine dirt down so you can either see tortoise or squirrel tracks in the dirt. Watch it though, your dog may be laughing at you when your setting the trap ;)
 

Millerlite

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Desert tortoises are sneaky at this time of year. Lots of times i notice they will only go to the neariest sun spot take in a few days and head back into the burrows. On the way they might check for food and water but they do it all fairly quick. In front of the burrow maybe lay down some kind of dirt and smooth it out. Check it for tracks later. Or some kind of string across the enterance thsts lightly ok they As he walks by he will disturbs it.

Kyle
 

Tom

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I believe my Desert Tortoise is hibernating but somethings been drinking the water and eating his food. His food bowl has been completely empty and I have been keeping his water bowl full just in case. I noticed a few days ago that it was wet all around his bowl as if he climbed through it so I put out a little food. The food is gone today and I now believe the birds are splashing the water around although I’m not sure about the food.

I just noticed that a ground squirrel has dug a hole under a shed into the tortoise compound. I want to leave the gate open for the dogs so they can chase the squirrel away but I need to be sure the tortoise is in for the winter.

I have not seen the tortoise in over a week (not really sure how long), but it’s been so warm during the day lately that I’m just not sure.

Anyway I’m wondering if there is something that I can lay inside the burrow that would move to indicate whether he came out. The only problem is that ground squirrel because it could also be going into the burrow.

  1. Use a Hav-a-Hart trap for the squirrels.
  2. Don't let the dogs have access to the tortoise area.
  3. Don't let the tortoise hibernate outside in a burrow. There is a good chance it won't survive. Not worth the risk.
  4. I'd use a Go Pro set for time lapse photography, or a motion sensitive game camera to see if the tortoise is still coming up. I liked Anyfoot's idea of the fine dirt at the burrow entrance to. If your tortoise has eaten in the last few days during our warm spell, you could have a real problem now that we are heading in to this cold spell.
 

Anyfoot

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Is it a bad idea to leave piles of food just incase there is a warm spell @Tom. A warm spell in the wild wouldn't produce fresh food all of a sudden, I'm thinking.
 

JohnnyB65

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I like the idea of the sand and I must be getting old because I can’t believe I didn’t think of that. I already have a bag of play sand that would be perfect. I think it might even show any squirrel tracks as well if one decides to go down into the burrow.

As far as hibernating outside in a burrow, he’s been doing that for 10 years now without any problem. I usually cover the entrance with soft dirt to keep the critters out when I’m absolutely sure he’s down for the winter. He digs his way out in the spring and it also gives me a good indication that he’s up.
 

Tom

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Is it a bad idea to leave piles of food just incase there is a warm spell @Tom. A warm spell in the wild wouldn't produce fresh food all of a sudden, I'm thinking.

The problem is relatively shallow burrows that leave the tortoise exposed to the wether extremes here in Southern California. We had daily highs near 100 all last week, and we are only going to get mid to low 60s this week. We will likely see mid to high 80s again before "winter" sets in here. The weather is unpredictable and inconsistent. This makes if difficult and dangerous to hibernate a turtle, tortoise or lizard outside here.
 

Yvonne G

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I too don't like the idea of outdoor hibernation, however, Johnny lives in the desert tortoises' native land, so it should be ok.

No, I would not be putting food out.
 

Tom

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As far as hibernating outside in a burrow, he’s been doing that for 10 years now without any problem. I usually cover the entrance with soft dirt to keep the critters out when I’m absolutely sure he’s down for the winter. He digs his way out in the spring and it also gives me a good indication that he’s up.

I'm trying to let you know that this is not a safe practice. Many people do it for years without a problem and think its fine. Guess what happens the year you realize that its not fine?

I can't even count how many people did what you are doing and said what you are saying, and now say, "I wish I had known before my tortoise died…" Or "I was doing what my vet (Or sub in whatever 'expert' you'd like here.) told me to do…"

Burrows collapse or flood, rats, squirrels or ants get in there, they freeze, they come up and eat during a warm spell either just before or during hibernation and then the food rots in their gut when "normal" winter temps return… One guy's adult DT was dug up by coyotes , and a smaller one was pulled out of its burrow by raccoons who ate his head.

It is a huge risk and many of them don't survive when left outside to suffer the cruel whims of mother nature. Its not a risk I would take with an animal that I cared about.
 

JohnnyB65

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Instead of laying play sand, lay flour at the entrance. White flour, for baking. It'll show any tracks much clearer than dirt or sand.

Hmm, that is a pretty good idea! Does flour attract ants? This year has been an awful time for ants around here for some reason.


Actually I thought maybe the ants were eating the food, but don’t know if that’s possible.
 

JohnnyB65

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In my experience, flour has not attracted ants.

DE could be used in the same fashion if needed.

Glad this idea helped you ;)
I haven't seen any ants on it and I'm happy to say there aren't any tortoise or squirrel tracks although it has only been 2 days.

I have some DE left over from a pool filter that I would like to use for those Asian cockroaches that live outside, but was afraid to use it around the tortoise area. I had a lot of them around my pond and I just got rid of the pond. I killed a lot of those bugs when removing the pond, but some got away although I haven't seen any around the tortoise burrow.
 

TammyJ

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Might the tortoise wake up, come on out and eat the flour?
 

Tom

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I haven't seen any ants on it and I'm happy to say there aren't any tortoise or squirrel tracks although it has only been 2 days.

I have some DE left over from a pool filter that I would like to use for those Asian cockroaches that live outside, but was afraid to use it around the tortoise area. I had a lot of them around my pond and I just got rid of the pond. I killed a lot of those bugs when removing the pond, but some got away although I haven't seen any around the tortoise burrow.

Pool DE is not safe to use around the animals. You need food grade DE for that.

Also, I wouldn't worry about the roaches. They will not harm your tortoise in any way, unlike ants or crickets.
 
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