Hi,
I found myself in the sudden possession of a tortoise today when I noticed one outside my home, plodding along the side of the street, in danger of getting hit by a car. I understand it's generally not a good idea to pick up wildlife, but this is an urban area and people on the roads aren't generally looking out for small, low-to-the-ground creatures, so it seemed that this poor thing was in considerable danger if I didn't intervene. I picked it up and moved it to a walled yard not very far from where I had found it, put it in a shady area, and left it some lettuce leaves and a shallow dish of water (it hasn't seem very interested in either yet). It seems healthy (except for some possible shell damage near one of the back legs??) and alert and walked around quite briskly for a while before settling down, so I don't think I have any major health concerns to address.
I'm really not a tortoise person at all but from my hasty googling it seems to be a desert tortoise. I'm in northern Mexico so it seems like it could be native. However, I don't think it's wild -- or if it is, something happened to it, because there's no empty / natural space nearby. I don't think it could have (or would have) walked this far into an urban area by itself. It could be an escaped pet but I don't know of any possible owners nearby so it could take a while to find its home if that is the case -- which leads me to my question.
Does anyone have any advice to keep a (possibly wild, possibly escaped pet) desert tortoise comfortable and safe until it can be returned to its proper home? I can't bring it indoors because of my dog (who seems more afraid of it than anything, but I'd rather not take any chances). I also don't have any tortoise equipment whatsoever. Is a few leaves of lettuce, some water, and a spacious yard enough? I read that they like to burrow, should I dig a hole for it or something -- or is it better to let it do that by itself?
Also, as it's evening right now, are there any special precautions I should take to keep it safe from predators (?) at night?
I apologise if something like this has been answered before, I searched and didn't find anything particularly similar.
Also, I apologise if this belongs somewhere else! It is my introductory post here, but I'm new to this forum and not really sure how things work, so I'm sorry if this isn't where this belongs!
Thanks in advance to anyone who can help!! I just want this little friend to be happy until he can be rehomed
I found myself in the sudden possession of a tortoise today when I noticed one outside my home, plodding along the side of the street, in danger of getting hit by a car. I understand it's generally not a good idea to pick up wildlife, but this is an urban area and people on the roads aren't generally looking out for small, low-to-the-ground creatures, so it seemed that this poor thing was in considerable danger if I didn't intervene. I picked it up and moved it to a walled yard not very far from where I had found it, put it in a shady area, and left it some lettuce leaves and a shallow dish of water (it hasn't seem very interested in either yet). It seems healthy (except for some possible shell damage near one of the back legs??) and alert and walked around quite briskly for a while before settling down, so I don't think I have any major health concerns to address.
I'm really not a tortoise person at all but from my hasty googling it seems to be a desert tortoise. I'm in northern Mexico so it seems like it could be native. However, I don't think it's wild -- or if it is, something happened to it, because there's no empty / natural space nearby. I don't think it could have (or would have) walked this far into an urban area by itself. It could be an escaped pet but I don't know of any possible owners nearby so it could take a while to find its home if that is the case -- which leads me to my question.
Does anyone have any advice to keep a (possibly wild, possibly escaped pet) desert tortoise comfortable and safe until it can be returned to its proper home? I can't bring it indoors because of my dog (who seems more afraid of it than anything, but I'd rather not take any chances). I also don't have any tortoise equipment whatsoever. Is a few leaves of lettuce, some water, and a spacious yard enough? I read that they like to burrow, should I dig a hole for it or something -- or is it better to let it do that by itself?
Also, as it's evening right now, are there any special precautions I should take to keep it safe from predators (?) at night?
I apologise if something like this has been answered before, I searched and didn't find anything particularly similar.
Also, I apologise if this belongs somewhere else! It is my introductory post here, but I'm new to this forum and not really sure how things work, so I'm sorry if this isn't where this belongs!
Thanks in advance to anyone who can help!! I just want this little friend to be happy until he can be rehomed
