Hello,
Our friend recently found what looks to be a Texas Tortoise. It was crossing a very busy road and was about to be killed so he saved him from being smooshed. There was no natural, green space around so my best guess is that this is someone's escaped pet.
It looks like a mature male, concave plastron, chin glands, wide anal scutes, about 7-8 inches in length. He is awesome, very handsome and appears to be very healthy. He is eating well, prickly pear pads, prickly pear fruit, some clover weeds, etc. Stools look healthy.
We have been researching and we are aware that he can not be released back into the wild due to risk of disease spread to wild colonies, not sure we would want to release him anyway considering that he could end up as road kill, captured for the Asian markets or become a victim of animal cruelty. We are also aware that in order to keep it legally, we have to obtain a permit, which doesn't sound all that easy to do. We are afraid that if TX Parks & Wildlife gets ahold of him, he will most likely be euthanized.
We want to do what is best for this tortoise and would like to see him live a long, happy, safe and healthy life. Does anyone know what we should do with him? Who has a permit who would be able to give him a home in San Antonio or nearby? Would anyone be able to take him in San Antonio? We do not want to see him used as a breeding Tortoise, sold in a pet store, crowded with too many other tortoises, etc.
Our friend recently found what looks to be a Texas Tortoise. It was crossing a very busy road and was about to be killed so he saved him from being smooshed. There was no natural, green space around so my best guess is that this is someone's escaped pet.
It looks like a mature male, concave plastron, chin glands, wide anal scutes, about 7-8 inches in length. He is awesome, very handsome and appears to be very healthy. He is eating well, prickly pear pads, prickly pear fruit, some clover weeds, etc. Stools look healthy.
We have been researching and we are aware that he can not be released back into the wild due to risk of disease spread to wild colonies, not sure we would want to release him anyway considering that he could end up as road kill, captured for the Asian markets or become a victim of animal cruelty. We are also aware that in order to keep it legally, we have to obtain a permit, which doesn't sound all that easy to do. We are afraid that if TX Parks & Wildlife gets ahold of him, he will most likely be euthanized.
We want to do what is best for this tortoise and would like to see him live a long, happy, safe and healthy life. Does anyone know what we should do with him? Who has a permit who would be able to give him a home in San Antonio or nearby? Would anyone be able to take him in San Antonio? We do not want to see him used as a breeding Tortoise, sold in a pet store, crowded with too many other tortoises, etc.