Vanished

[Bryan8]

This male tortoise vanished from my garden on the night of the storm 13th june 2025. He's a variegated and weighs between 2.5 and 3 kilos. I live on the romney marsh in Greatstone. Any info would be appreciated. He can't escape, the garden is secure, digging and burying himself although an option is unlikely due to the nature of the terrain.

 

[TammyJ]

Can you post a picture of the area he occupies? He may be right there but not visible, having hidden during the storm.
He is a Marginated tortoise. Quite a beautiful one!

 

[Bryan8]

He has the complete run of the garden, all the fences walls gates etc are very tortoise proof which also keeps a small dog inside. Every bush and shrub has been checked under and the soil is only about a foot deep we sit on pebbles. If he returns I will pass on the compliment

 

[zolasmum]

If you put small piles of his favourite food in different parts of the garden, this might encourage him to reappear - though of course it is possible that some other creature might eat it too! I am so sorry - it must be very worrying. Perhaps, when you find him, you might try fixing a tracker to his shell.
Welcome from Devon ,by the way.
Angie

 

[Bryan8]

He has the complete run of the garden, all the fences walls gates etc are very tortoise proof which also keeps a small dog inside. Every bush and shrub has been checked under and the soil is only about a foot deep we sit on pebbles. If he returns I will pass on the compli

If you put small piles of his favourite food in different parts of the garden, this might encourage him to reappear - though of course it is possible that some other creature might eat it too! I am so sorry - it must be very worrying. Perhaps, when you find him, you might try fixing a tracker to his shell.
Welcome from Devon ,by the way.
Angie

Thank you Angie. A tracker was being considered and if he returns he will be fitted with one.
Bryan

 

[Bryan8]

He has the complete run of the garden, all the fences walls gates etc are very tortoise proof which also keeps a small dog inside. Every bush and shrub has been checked under and the soil is only about a foot deep we sit on pebbles. If he returns I will pass on the compliment

If he has gone into hiding because of the storm any idea on how long before he would crawl out now the weather is hot and sunny again?

 

[Bryan8]

This male tortoise vanished from my garden on the night of the storm 13th june 2025. He's a variegated and weighs between 2.5 and 3 kilos. I live on the romney marsh in Greatstone. Any info would be appreciated. He can't escape, the garden is secure, digging and burying himself although an option is unlikely due to the nature of the terrain.

 

[Bryan8]

Back safe and sound

 

[zovick]

Back safe and sound

Glad it is back! Where did you find the tortoise?

 

[RhodaE]

So glad you got him back! We use a TILE tracker on our tortoise, it makes it easy for us to activate from our porch, hear the sound, and now he's all right. We check on him every hour or two. You really have to glue it on well though. Our guy scraped his off and escaped into the forest when we first moved to our new house. Never saw my husband run so fast.

 

[Bryan8]

Glad it is back! Where did you find the tortoise?

Hiding in the shed

 

[The_Four_Toed_Edward]

Good news! He probably hunkered down due to the storm.

 

[Bryan8]

Good news! He probably hunkered down due to the storm.

And I didn't realise the shed was open! I didn't even check inside....I'm a silly old fool

 

[zolasmum]

Congratulations - that's wonderful news ! ! !
Angie

 

[Maggie3fan]

I totally understand the relief upon finding a lost tort...good going!!!

 

[Bryan8]

So glad you got him back! We use a TILE tracker on our tortoise, it makes it easy for us to activate from our porch, hear the sound, and now he's all right. We check on him every hour or two. You really have to glue it on well though. Our guy scraped his off and escaped into the forest when we first moved to our new house. Never saw my husband run so fast.

What glue did you use? I've read that you have to be careful because the shell has nerve endings and it could irritate them

 

[zolasmum]

Actually,your tortoise is obviously very intelligent, managing to find a safe dry place like your shed in the storm - you should be very proud of him !
Angie

 

[Tom]

And I didn't realise the shed was open! I didn't even check inside....I'm a silly old fool

I've had that one happen to me too, but my tortoise was 100 pounds. He went into the shed and knocked a bunch of junk on top of himself. I did check there, but I didn't see him under all the stuff on top of him.

So glad you found him safe and sound.

You can use silicone aquarium sealant for the tracker. Put it in the middle of a scute so you don't get any silicone glue on the growth seam. You can use some painters masking tape to hold it in place while the silicone cures.

 

[Bryan8]

I've had that one happen to me too, but my tortoise was 100 pounds. He went into the shed and knocked a bunch of junk on top of himself. I did check there, but I didn't see him under all the stuff on top of him.

So glad you found him safe and sound.

You can use silicone aquarium sealant for the tracker. Put it in the middle of a scute so you don't get any silicone glue on the growth seam. You can use some painters masking tape to hold it in place while the silicone cures.

Thanks for the advice

 

[Bryan8]

Actually,your tortoise is obviously very intelligent, managing to find a safe dry place like your shed in the storm - you should be very proud of him !
Angie

I am ....very angry with myself but proud of him