The property line between me and my neighbor to the east is only a foot or so outside my pond, separated by a 6' privacy fence. The gulf coast box turtle pen is also on that property line.
So this a.m. I was out at the pond feeding them some chicken. I had a few pieces left over and stepped over the fence into the box turtle pen to offer the morsels to them. WHAT?? How did that water turtle get in here? I picked it up and it was a very large (red belly, yellow belly, painted?????) turtle that I had never seen before. I have only female RES, some Florida soft shells, an Argentine side neck and several pond turtles, but none that look like this large specimen. I didn't think to get my camera, I just tossed her into the pond. Then I continued through the tall clover looking for the box turtles. WHAT???? How did that water turtle get in here? I picked it up and it was a VERY large male melanistic RES. I KNOW FOR SURE that this isn't one of my turtles because I only kept female RES so there would be no breeding.
I have a sneaking suspicion my next door neighbor is helping me populate the pond, not knowing there's a separating fence between the box turtles and the pond. Who know how long those poor turtles have been out of the water!
Now I have to find a home with a pond for this male RES. In the meantime, he's in a water trough. He's very wild, and wouldn't be still for a photo shoot:
So this a.m. I was out at the pond feeding them some chicken. I had a few pieces left over and stepped over the fence into the box turtle pen to offer the morsels to them. WHAT?? How did that water turtle get in here? I picked it up and it was a very large (red belly, yellow belly, painted?????) turtle that I had never seen before. I have only female RES, some Florida soft shells, an Argentine side neck and several pond turtles, but none that look like this large specimen. I didn't think to get my camera, I just tossed her into the pond. Then I continued through the tall clover looking for the box turtles. WHAT???? How did that water turtle get in here? I picked it up and it was a VERY large male melanistic RES. I KNOW FOR SURE that this isn't one of my turtles because I only kept female RES so there would be no breeding.
I have a sneaking suspicion my next door neighbor is helping me populate the pond, not knowing there's a separating fence between the box turtles and the pond. Who know how long those poor turtles have been out of the water!
Now I have to find a home with a pond for this male RES. In the meantime, he's in a water trough. He's very wild, and wouldn't be still for a photo shoot: