😢 Found my tortoise eaten by something

[Bb1]

Found my tortoise eaten by something in the garden today, nothing left, just a shell. Some of its shell was missing under. Devastated, what can this be?

 

[Megatron's Mom]

I'm so sorry, poor little guy.

With nothing but the shell I'm going to guess a racoon. There little paws can go in and grab. What size was he and type of tortoise?

 

[Carol S]

I am so sorry for the loss of your precious tortoise. It possibly was a raccoon.

 

[wellington]

Oh wow, so very sorry.

 

[TammyJ]

I am very sorry. What kind of wildlife is in your part of the UK?

 

[Littleredfootbigredheart]

We don’t have raccoons here, being from the uk myself all that springs to mind is badgers or foxes😣
So sorry for you loss!

 

[S2G]

Thats so gutting. Im sorry. Ive been there several times. Raccoons are my usual suspects. My guess would be a fox over there.

 

[Chefdenoel10]

Wow.
Just … wow.
I am so very sorry for your loss.
😱🤯😭😭😭😭

 

[Bb1]

I’m in the UK so no raccoons, would a rat do something like this? There is some damage to the underside of the shell, like some of it is missing? She was in a secured run outside with chicken wire over the top, so this is really confusing. Never letting a tortoise out alone in the garden again, was thinking my setup was safe from predators😢

 

[Littleredfootbigredheart]

I’m in the UK so no raccoons, would a rat do something like this? There is some damage to the underside of the shell, like some of it is missing? She was in a secured run outside with chicken wire over the top, so this is really confusing. Never letting a tortoise out alone in the garden again, was thinking my setup was safe from predators😢

Did the run look like an animal had got in? Like raised up or anything? If not it is possible for rodents to fit through chicken wire, I can’t imagine a rat was capable but maybe if there was a lot of them😞
I’m sorry this has happened.. if you choose to own again I hope to see you stick around on the forum, we can talk you through setting up a safe enclosure

 

[Tom]

I’m in the UK so no raccoons, would a rat do something like this? There is some damage to the underside of the shell, like some of it is missing? She was in a secured run outside with chicken wire over the top, so this is really confusing. Never letting a tortoise out alone in the garden again, was thinking my setup was safe from predators😢

What size and species of tortoise?

Yes, rats could do this. I have temperature controlled insulated shelters that I use in all of my outdoor pens. Every night every tortoise is counted and locked in their box over night, and then the doors are opened the next morning. You can see what I'm talking about in this thread:

The Best Way To Raise Any Temperate Species Of Tortoise

I chose the title of this care sheet very carefully. Are there other ways to raise babies and care for adults? Yes. Yes there are, but those ways are not as good. What follows is the BEST way, according to 30 years of research and experimentation with hundreds of babies of many species. What is...

tortoiseforum.org

 

[Ink]

Sorry for your loss.

 

[Tortoise Nana]

Found my tortoise eaten by something in the garden today, nothing left, just a shell. Some of its shell was missing under. Devastated, what can this be?

I’m so sorry to hear this. I know Joy must be devastated. Poor thing. I hope he didn’t suffer. 🔥