If you live in the Fresno/Clovis (California) area and are looking to adopt a desert tortoise, I have several that are looking for homes.
The tortoises in the group picture are 7 and 9 years old. The single tortoise is appx. 10 years old and was found walking in the highway, owner not found, so no information on him. Large fiberglass patch on carapace.
There is no fee required, however, you have to live close enough to me so that I can come take a look at the yard where you want to keep the tortoise. These are the things I look for:
Yard Inspection
Is habitat large enough for this species?
Fencing Tall enough?
Secure at bottom to prevent digging?
Is fence “see through”?
Gates Do gates latch securely?
Is there a spring for automatic closing?
Does tortoise have access to whole yard?
(Games like softball and soccer can adversely affect
turtles or tortoises, which may be in the path of a child not
watching where he is running)
Is there a dog? (Dogs WILL chew on tortoises and turtles)
Is there a pool? Fenced? (Most tortoises cannot swim and
will drown in an unfenced pool)
Is there shelter from the sun?
From the rain?
From the cold?
Is there an adequate water supply?
Is there a clean area for feeding?
Is the enclosure planted with plants that are good for them to
eat? To hide in?
Is there grass or weeds for grazing?
Are the tops of the corners guarded to inhibit climbing?
Is there a separate enclosure for each species?
Is the hibernation area for tortoises dry?
And while we're walking around and looking at the yard, I'm talking to you, listening to you, and getting a feel for if you really understand what you're getting into with the adoption.
The tortoises in the group picture are 7 and 9 years old. The single tortoise is appx. 10 years old and was found walking in the highway, owner not found, so no information on him. Large fiberglass patch on carapace.
There is no fee required, however, you have to live close enough to me so that I can come take a look at the yard where you want to keep the tortoise. These are the things I look for:
Yard Inspection
Is habitat large enough for this species?
Fencing Tall enough?
Secure at bottom to prevent digging?
Is fence “see through”?
Gates Do gates latch securely?
Is there a spring for automatic closing?
Does tortoise have access to whole yard?
(Games like softball and soccer can adversely affect
turtles or tortoises, which may be in the path of a child not
watching where he is running)
Is there a dog? (Dogs WILL chew on tortoises and turtles)
Is there a pool? Fenced? (Most tortoises cannot swim and
will drown in an unfenced pool)
Is there shelter from the sun?
From the rain?
From the cold?
Is there an adequate water supply?
Is there a clean area for feeding?
Is the enclosure planted with plants that are good for them to
eat? To hide in?
Is there grass or weeds for grazing?
Are the tops of the corners guarded to inhibit climbing?
Is there a separate enclosure for each species?
Is the hibernation area for tortoises dry?
And while we're walking around and looking at the yard, I'm talking to you, listening to you, and getting a feel for if you really understand what you're getting into with the adoption.