Found a Tortoise!

[Pammie]

Dropping my son off a school today I nearly ran over a tortoise! I've picked him up and brought him home. I'm going to advertise locally to find his owner, he looks fine no injuries just a bit dusty and dirty. what should I do to keep him (or her) well until I can find the owner ? He's currently in a enclosed back terrace with an area he can get under some plants in the shade and very shallow dish of water is available (I've left him undisturbed). maybe put some food out available this evening?

Pammie

 

[Stazz]

Hi there Pammie. The best would be to post a pic for us to help you with what food to feed the tortoise, depending on what type it is. Post a pic of the top shell (carapace) and the bottom shell (plastron) and the tail. Some one here can help you quite quickly to define what kind of tortoise it is, if it's native to the area or not.

With regards to finding the owner (if it has one), put an ad out and posters up saying "Tortoise found", don't specify anything as you'll get loads of people calling in to say its theirs, when its actually not The owner would know true specifics of their lost tortoise.

 

[egyptiandan]

Seeing as your in Portugal (Maggie ) the tortoise isn't native. There are 2 species native to Spain though, so could be either one of those.
There are though 2 turtles native to Portugal, so it could always be one of those.
Like Stace said we will need pictures to help you figure out what you have found.

Danny

 

[Stazz]

Hehe

 

[Maggie Cummings]

Danny...gloating is NOT an attractive quality...

 

[hermansdad]

Hi there Pammie. The best would be to post a pic for us to help you with what food to feed the tortoise, depending on what type it is. Post a pic of the top shell (carapace) and the bottom shell (plastron) and the tail. Some one here can help you quite quickly to define what kind of tortoise it is, if it's native to the area or not.

With regards to finding the owner (if it has one), put an ad out and posters up saying "Tortoise found", don't specify anything as you'll get loads of people calling in to say its theirs, when its actually not The owner would know true specifics of their lost tortoise.

I vote for this. Pics would be great and definately dont give out perticulars about him/her.

I gotta say, thanks for caring for the tortoise and not just ditching him on the side of the road like most people would do. Three cheers for you!

 

[Pammie]

Will get some pics later today and post tomorrow... little chap was quite happy yesterday sleeping under the plants then later stomping up and down the plant runner in the evening. My very docile dog kept well out of the way hiding in her kennel
The shell is actually quite flat more like a turtle rather than the more rounded shells I've seen on this site I'm sure it's not a turtle but please 'excuse me' as I know absolutely nothing about tortoises or turtles

Pammie
Sunny Portugal

 

[egyptiandan]

You might want to give it a large shallow dish of water, just in case it is a turtle.

Danny

 

[hermansdad]

Do you have some sort of Herpetological Society or similar group in your area Pammie? Perhaps the equivalent to the Department of Natural Resources we have in the States? If so, I would contact them. They should know if its native or not and give you some care advice.