Need Help with Tortoise Found in Backyard

[selincanpolat]

Hello everyone!

Yesterday, I found an adorable tortoise in my backyard. I offered it watermelon, lettuce, and cucumber (I even peeled the cucumber to make it extra soft for easier chewing), but it was reluctant to eat any of them. Instead, it walked towards a bush on the side of our house, hid itself, and almost buried itself in the dirt, where it slept for hours.

This morning, I checked to see if it was still there, and it was. I read on this forum that it's normal for tortoises to hide in places where they feel safe, especially corners where they can avoid danger from all directions. However, it's been sleeping since yesterday afternoon, and before that, it didn't want to eat anything. I'm concerned it might be ill, and I don't want to unintentionally do anything harmful to it.

How should I treat it? I live in a quite rural area, but there are still lots of cars and trucks around. I would love to keep and take care of it in our backyard, without putting it in a cage. I would appreciate any recommendations and information, please.

Thanks in advance!

 

[Alex and the Redfoot]

Hello!
It looks like a wild one or caught from the wild and escaped from someone's yard. You may try to find an owner - they could be missing it. I'm struggling to tell what specie it is (definitely one of Testudo), some of them are native to Turkey.

It might be ill or injured that's why it sleeping a lot. You may offer it water in a large shallow dish (like those put under plant pots) as they often dehydrated and this causes lots of problems. You may also put it in this water dish (make sure it can easily climb out of it) and see how it goes. Water dish should be in a shady area.

They eat mostly leafy greens and weeds, so offer it hibiscus flowers and leaves, mulberry leaves, dandelions. Lettuce and cucumber have little nutrients but help it with hydration. Watermelon is high in sugars - it's better to avoid it for now as well as other fruit. Don't try to hand feed it - just leave foods on piece of slate or plate.

As it's a wild one - it would be unethical to take it, however you need to make sure it's in a good health. I suggest to use rubber gloves to handle it and carefully examine its legs, neck and shell bottom for any injuries (its shell was damaged, probably by dogs or other predators so there could be other traumas). Don't turn it on its back - gently lift it in the air and look from below. If someone could help you and make some photos - we will try to assess if there are any problems.

As a general rules - minimize handling, keep dogs away and try to form some routines - food and water in the same places at the same time and so on. While you are taking care of it - find the way how it got into your backyard and block it to prevent escaping.

This care sheet will help with right foods and general care for it:

The Best Way To Raise Any Temperate Species Of Tortoise

I chose the title of this care sheet very carefully. Are there other ways to raise babies and care for adults? Yes. Yes there are, but those ways are not as good. What follows is the BEST way, according to 30 years of research and experimentation with hundreds of babies of many species. What is...

tortoiseforum.org

 

[selincanpolat]

Hello!
It looks like a wild one or caught from the wild and escaped from someone's yard. You may try to find an owner - they could be missing it. I'm struggling to tell what specie it is (definitely one of Testudo), some of them are native to Turkey.

It might be ill or injured that's why it sleeping a lot. You may offer it water in a large shallow dish (like those put under plant pots) as they often dehydrated and this causes lots of problems. You may also put it in this water dish (make sure it can easily climb out of it) and see how it goes. Water dish should be in a shady area.

They eat mostly leafy greens and weeds, so offer it hibiscus flowers and leaves, mulberry leaves, dandelions. Lettuce and cucumber have little nutrients but help it with hydration. Watermelon is high in sugars - it's better to avoid it for now as well as other fruit. Don't try to hand feed it - just leave foods on piece of slate or plate.

As it's a wild one - it would be unethical to take it, however you need to make sure it's in a good health. I suggest to use rubber gloves to handle it and carefully examine its legs, neck and shell bottom for any injuries (its shell was damaged, probably by dogs or other predators so there could be other traumas). Don't turn it on its back - gently lift it in the air and look from below. If someone could help you and make some photos - we will try to assess if there are any problems.

As a general rules - minimize handling, keep dogs away and try to form some routines - food and water in the same places at the same time and so on. While you are taking care of it - find the way how it got into your backyard and block it to prevent escaping.

This care sheet will help with right foods and general care for it:

The Best Way To Raise Any Temperate Species Of Tortoise

I chose the title of this care sheet very carefully. Are there other ways to raise babies and care for adults? Yes. Yes there are, but those ways are not as good. What follows is the BEST way, according to 30 years of research and experimentation with hundreds of babies of many species. What is...

tortoiseforum.org

Hello friend, thank you so much for your helpful reply. Now I understand why it wasn't eating or drinking. Yesterday, I tried to feed it and give it water by hand, but I should have just left it on the grass. I won't be giving it watermelon as you suggested. Luckily, we have a lot of lettuce and cucumber. I examined its body a bit yesterday and didn't find any injuries, as I wanted to make sure it wasn't hurt. I'll share more details soon. Thanks again!

 

[Alex and the Redfoot]

Hello friend, thank you so much for your helpful reply. Now I understand why it wasn't eating or drinking. Yesterday, I tried to feed it and give it water by hand, but I should have just left it on the grass. I won't be giving it watermelon as you suggested. Luckily, we have a lot of lettuce and cucumber. I examined its body a bit yesterday and didn't find any injuries, as I wanted to make sure it wasn't hurt. I'll share more details soon. Thanks again!

Yes, please keep us updated!

 

[selincanpolat]

Yes, please keep us updated!

By the way, I believe it is an Testudo Hermanni because in my language it is called the Trakya Tortoise and Trakya is the name of the region I am living.

 

[The_Four_Toed_Edward]

It definitely has an old injury on it's shell behind the neck but it probably doesn't bother the tortoise anymore.

It is hard to ID testudos, but their care is very similar. Also, wild and captive tortoises behave very similarly, so it is hard to say whether it has been someone's pet. You will probably know your area better and how to make sure that it isn't anyone's pet

 

[selincanpolat]

It definitely has an old injury on it's shell behind the neck but it probably doesn't bother the tortoise anymore.

It is hard to ID testudos, but their care is very similar. Also, wild and captive tortoises behave very similarly, so it is hard to say whether it has been someone's pet. You will probably know your area better and how to make sure that it isn't anyone's pet

This is very interesting, how could you tell that it was injured?

 

[Alex and the Redfoot]

By the way, I believe it is an Testudo Hermanni because in my language it is called the Trakya Tortoise and Trakya is the name of the region I am living.

Probably you are right. He has seasoned and super smooth shell which is rare with captive tortoises. If I'm not mistaken, there is also native Greek tortoise subspecie (Testudo graeca ibera) native to Turkey, which looks similar.

With more photos we can tell with more confidence. Also his shell size may give us a hint.

 

[Alex and the Redfoot]

This is very interesting, how could you tell that it was injured?

Edge of his shell just above neck and front legs is jagged and colored scutes have fallen off, leaving exposed bone. However it doesn't look like a recent damage - no blood and bone looks weathered.

 

[The_Four_Toed_Edward]

This is very interesting, how could you tell that it was injured?

If you look at photos of healthy Testudo hermannis and you compare them to the tortoise you found, it looks like it has cracked some time in the past but already healed. Just like @Alex and the Redfoot said, it looks like an old injury that doesn't bother it anymore.

 

[VernaG]

Hello everyone!

Yesterday, I found an adorable tortoise in my backyard. I offered it watermelon, lettuce, and cucumber (I even peeled the cucumber to make it extra soft for easier chewing), but it was reluctant to eat any of them. Instead, it walked towards a bush on the side of our house, hid itself, and almost buried itself in the dirt, where it slept for hours.

This morning, I checked to see if it was still there, and it was. I read on this forum that it's normal for tortoises to hide in places where they feel safe, especially corners where they can avoid danger from all directions. However, it's been sleeping since yesterday afternoon, and before that, it didn't want to eat anything. I'm concerned it might be ill, and I don't want to unintentionally do anything harmful to it.

How should I treat it? I live in a quite rural area, but there are still lots of cars and trucks around. I would love to keep and take care of it in our backyard, without putting it in a cage. I would appreciate any recommendations and information, please.

Thanks in advance!

 

[Markw84]

This is very interesting, how could you tell that it was injured?

The tortoise looks like it has been chewed on by a dog. Pretty distinctive damage to the front marginals. Possible similar damage to the rear of the shell too as it appears a pretty determined chewing episode!

It does look like a Testudo graeca ibera which is native to your area.

 

[selincanpolat]

The tortoise looks like it has been chewed on by a dog. Pretty distinctive damage to the front marginals. Possible similar damage to the rear of the shell too as it appears a pretty determined chewing episode!

It does look like a Testudo graeca ibera which is native to your area.

This is so sad!

 

[selincanpolat]

Yes, please keep us updated!

Our tortoise friend left us yesterday afternoon, and unfortunately, we lost track of it. We offered it water, and thankfully, it drank all of it before it left. I hope we can see it again, and that it will be safe in the meantime. Thank you very much for the information; next time I come across a tortoise, I will know better what to do. By the way, could you tell it's gender?

 

[Alex and the Redfoot]

Our tortoise friend left us yesterday afternoon, and unfortunately, we lost track of it. We offered it water, and thankfully, it drank all of it before it left. I hope we can see it again, and that it will be safe in the meantime. Thank you very much for the information; next time I come across a tortoise, I will know better what to do. By the way, could you tell it's gender?

Oh, I wish him luck and long happy life! (He might return back in a while - they have good navigation skills and remember "feeding spots").

If you have a photo of its tail - we can try to guess

 

[selincanpolat]

Oh, I wish him luck and long happy life! (He might return back in a while - they have good navigation skills and remember "feeding spots").

If you have a photo of its tail - we can try to guess

Have a nice weekend! Tospik is back (I decided to name it Tospik). After wandering around for a while, it returned to its previous sleeping spot. I'm so happy to see it again. I also tried my best to take a picture of its tail, hoping it will help in identifying its gender. Thanks in advance!

 

[TammyJ]

Looks female, but a plastron picture would be good. Maybe the tail was chewed too. Probably this tortoise could tell some impressive horror stories! It's a sweetheart.

 

[Alex and the Redfoot]

Have a nice weekend! Tospik is back (I decided to name it Tospik). After wandering around for a while, it returned to its previous sleeping spot. I'm so happy to see it again. I also tried my best to take a picture of its tail, hoping it will help in identifying its gender. Thanks in advance!

From this shot it looks female. I would not take any plastron photos yet - don't stress it if you like it visiting your yard. Maybe later if it decides to settle in

Upd:
However, I see now that you have lifted it off the ground... Ask someone to make a photo from below, dont't turn it upside down.

 

[selincanpolat]

From this shot it looks female. I would not take any plastron photos yet - don't stress it if you like it visiting your yard. Maybe later if it decides to settle in

Upd:
However, I see now that you have lifted it off the ground... Ask someone to make a photo from below, dont't turn it upside down.

Hello! Thank you very much for your reply. Of course, I will take my notes. There is one thing that I had recognised. Just like the first time Tospik visited us, I found it on the same spot and later on it crawled into the same bush of leaves to fall in a very long sleep. Again, I left water, lettuce and peeled off cucumber near by but this morning, just like before, only the water was absent. She doesn’t seem to be eating but I still hope that it feeds somewhere else. Also, just like the first time, she was gone by the morning after drinking the water.

 

[selincanpolat]

Looks female, but a plastron picture would be good. Maybe the tail was chewed too. Probably this tortoise could tell some impressive horror stories! It's a sweetheart.

Hello friend, thank you very much for your reply. You are right, poor girl has several injuries on her shell…