Lost cherryhead baby

[Pearly]

I am willing to bet he's still in the flower bed. Once he realized he could get away and hide, he hid himself and hasn't moved. Now he's cold and for sure he's not moving.

Yvonne, being tropical baby tort, with plenty of food available (plants and snails that he loves) and being so tiny (his last weight was around 6oz I think) do you have any experience with how long such small baby can survive in cold temps? He's been missing since Friday a week ago. The first few days was really warm (80's in the afternoon) but then since Wed we've had cool front, 2 nights with light freeze, windy cold mornings of low 40's temps that actually feel much cooler. I worked so hard to keep him warm and now, poor baby is freezing somewhere. I feel sense of urgency to find him asap and take him in for treatment. Do you think he could have survived this cold weather with no soft soil to dig himself into to keep warm?

 

[dmmj]

I don't know if this has been suggested or not but have you tried a dog or 2?

 

[Markw84]

Have you tried putting your other tort in the flower bed and give him time to see where he goes to hide or dig in? Might give you an idea of what the tortoise sees in there

 

[dannylozano10]

Smart idea!!!

 

[MPRC]

We are all still rooting for you. I've heard stories of lost tortoises up here in Oregon that turn up after a winter outdoors and no one knows how. They really are pretty resilient.
Maybe organize a search party with an emphasis on "party" - tell your friends, neighbors and local herpetology groups (on FB and call any local rescues you can think of and make them an offer) that if they come crawl around your yard on all fours for an hour or two you will grill up some hot dogs or something and have a cooler full of beer. Maybe even offer a small cash reward for anyone who finds him.

 

[dmmj]

We are all still rooting for you. I've heard stories of lost tortoises up here in Oregon that turn up after a winter outdoors and no one knows how. They really are pretty resilient.
Maybe organize a search party with an emphasis on "party" - tell your friends, neighbors and local herpetology groups (on FB and call any local rescues you can think of and make them an offer) that if they come crawl around your yard on all fours for an hour or two you will grill up some hot dogs or something and have a cooler full of beer. Maybe even offer a small cash reward for anyone who finds him.

for an hours worth of work I need at least four hot dogs ( is that 1 word or 2?)and two beers

 

[Pearly]

I don't know if this has been suggested or not but have you tried a dog or 2?

Next door neighbor's yorkie and kids' friend's lab mix have both been by in sniffing searches. The Yorkie 3-4 times a day. The lab got to snuf Shellie and was allowed to go sniffing around. If I could only speak "dog" and understand their signals. I followed in all the places they went for visual and tactile search myself... Nothing! Meanwhile had to replace a bulb that was broken for some reason (hmmm, I wonder if someone did it on purpose?....) It's getting dusky outside, gotta go switch the lights over to CHE outside... Husband still mad about "wasting energy" (down now to 100 W day and 100W night time) and I don't even care! Just want to find this little Bad Boy

 

[dannylozano10]

Lol I like your positivity!!!!

 

[sibi]

Do you live in Ca? How many cold days do you still expect? If tomorrow is warm by you, I'd go and search the flower bed again. Pull up each of the stone fence you have. Then work your way inward. Make sure you use markers from where you first started. Maybe you daughter can help. Whatever plant you can sacrifice, I'd pull it out. I, too wish I was there to help you. I'm tenacious and would probably risk a sugar low, for sure, to help find this bad boy!

 

[Pearly]

Have you tried putting your other tort in the flower bed and give him time to see where he goes to hide or dig in? Might give you an idea of what the tortoise sees in there

Yes, I had Shellie out there every afternoon we had nice warm weather this week, followed her only to find few nice plump snails and couple of nice bushy plant she's hide under. I dug the soil of course... Nothing! Last 2 days have been too cold and windy to have her out

 

[Pearly]

We are all still rooting for you. I've heard stories of lost tortoises up here in Oregon that turn up after a winter outdoors and no one knows how. They really are pretty resilient.
Maybe organize a search party with an emphasis on "party" - tell your friends, neighbors and local herpetology groups (on FB and call any local rescues you can think of and make them an offer) that if they come crawl around your yard on all fours for an hour or two you will grill up some hot dogs or something and have a cooler full of beer. Maybe even offer a small cash reward for anyone who finds him.

Yes! This would definitely be something I'd organize (used to put together best impromptu parties) if only married to a different husband or if this one would be away on business trip

 

[sibi]

Yes, I had Shellie out there every afternoon we had nice warm weather this week, followed her only to find few nice plump snails and couple of nice bushy plant she's hide under. I dug the soil of course... Nothing! Last 2 days have been too cold and windy to have her out

But that's the kind of conditions you'd want to put her out cause she'll want to scramble for cover. I wouldn't leave her out there for long, but if you put her in the last spot you saw Tucker, and it's cold enough, she may just try and hid. This will give you an idea of their behavior when they're scared and cold. I would do it a few days in a row to see how her behavior changes.

 

[sibi]

Yes! This would definitely be something I'd organize (used to put together best impromptu parties) if only married to a different husband or if this one would be away on business trip

I know what that's like. But, hey, you got him to go down a storm drain

 

[Pearly]

Do you live in Ca? How many cold days do you still expect? If tomorrow is warm by you, I'd go and search the flower bed again. Pull up each of the stone fence you have. Then work your way inward. Make sure you use markers from where you first started. Maybe you daughter can help. Whatever plant you can sacrifice, I'd pull it out. I, too wish I was there to help you. I'm tenacious and would probably risk a sugar low, for sure, to help find this bad boy!

No, I'm in the middle of Texas (Austin area). February is often our coldest month. I suffer from similar case of tenacity to yours I think, sounds like we both don't take "no" for the answer Getting my kids involved was good at the beginning of the missing saga, but they are still young and lose interest, and there's risk of 1/2a$$ing the work which I'd rather not have. This is where my tendency towards perfectionism can be of real value. Winter here is on it's last leg. We may get quite a few more cool nights and windy days in a Spring, but afternoons are usually nice and warm.

 

[Pearly]

But that's the kind of conditions you'd want to put her out cause she'll want to scramble for cover. I wouldn't leave her out there for long, but if you put her in the last spot you saw Tucker, and it's cold enough, she may just try and hid. This will give you an idea of their behavior when they're scared and cold. I would do it a few days in a row to see how her behavior changes.

Omg!!!!! Why didn't I think of that???!!!!

 

[Pearly]

I know what that's like. But, hey, you got him to go down a storm drain

That's why I've kept that pain in the a$$ for past 23 years!

 

[dmmj]

have you considered tearing out every single plant and peace of cover in there? leaving no place to hide?

 

[Pearly]

have you considered tearing out every single plant and peace of cover in there? leaving no place to hide?

You think???? This ground is not easy to dig in. Even for me with the tools when planting new plants (only do that 2x year). Honestly I hate to dig in this ground because it's so damn hard or if the shovel happens to go in, it for sure will hit some big rock. I didn't know little baby torts could be strong enough to work through such hard ground. It is compact dry clay, rock and roots of trees or shrubs that go all over the place in search of water. I have heard this suggestion more than once now to rip everything out. You Guys maybe onto something. Thanks

 

[Yvonne G]

He won't be down deep. He'll be in amongst the roots close to the top.

 

[Pearly]

He won't be down deep. He'll be in amongst the roots close to the top.

Do you think he may still be alive? With this cold weather? I know that temps in Texas caverns are steady 70's all year long, but that's DEEP underground. Plus even 70's is too cool for a baby. I had worked so hard to make sure their temps would never fall below 80f! Have you ever seen a little 3inch baby survive a whole week beeing out in the elements?