Can my Russian Tortoise be outside year-round in NorCal?

[Julian32122]

I’d like to create a permanent outdoor enclosure for my RT. He’s about 3-4 years old.

I live in Vallejo, California (located near the Bay Area) and have considered making him a huge outdoor enclosure to spend in year-round.

I know people say SoCal would be fine year-round for a tortoise, but what about NorCal? Anyone done this before? Any tips? Thanks!

 

[Tom]

I’d like to create a permanent outdoor enclosure for my RT. He’s about 3-4 years old.

I live in Vallejo, California (located near the Bay Area) and have considered making him a huge outdoor enclosure to spend in year-round.

I know people say SoCal would be fine year-round for a tortoise, but what about NorCal? Anyone done this before? Any tips? Thanks!

Nor cal would be fine, as long as you are brumating him safely under controlled conditions over winter. In this thread I show a night box set up that will allow you to get him out safely earlier in spring, and keep him out later in fall, while preparing for brumation.

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

 

[SinLA]

I used to live in Concord so I know the climate, personally I would not let them be outside once it regularly drops below 60°. You could create a heated night box.