Crusty Russian From Below

[Len B]

This is one of two of my missing russian tortoises that showed up today, I thought I had them confined to a small section in their enclosure to dig in for a couple of months to be woken up after the new year. When I went to get them I could only find four of the six. One is still missing,Hope it is OK. The hole this one came out of is over 12 inches deep and nowhere near where I was looking for her.

 

[wellington]

Wow, she really dug in. Like she casted herself in mud. Hope the other one pops up soon.

 

[mike taylor]

Thats awesome little serviver!

 

[lynnedit]

Anyone who thinks tortoises are slow should try to find a Russian tortoise who is determined to brumate!

So glad she showed up; great pics!

 

[Len B]

Thanks, I got a gift today, I found the last russian tortoise. She didn't come out on her own, I went searching for her and got lucky. She had tunneled under the base of the (what i thought would be a) safe area I had built for all of them.I would love to know how they dig and tunnel and never leave disturbed dirt behind them.The last pic is where their new year round enclosure is going to be.

 

[lynnedit]

Wow, that was lucky!
I agree, I have no idea how they are so good at disguising the soil behind them. And quite often, it isn't even that soft, it feels and looks like the soil around it.

What I would like to know is how you still have a choice piece of unused tortoise real estate in a warm, cactus filled area near a sun absorbing wall?