Why do tortoises walk the perimeter?

[Renee_H]

I’ve noticed when my tortoise is out wandering she spends most of her day walking along the boundaries vs throughout the enclosure. She’s worn paths in the grassy areas too by doing this. I am aware this isn’t uncommon and I guess it doesn’t matter why they do it. But does anyone have any theories about it? Her Enclosure is an L. 50’ on the furthest wall, 14’ across, 40’ back up, 14’ to the left and another 10’ up the the final wall which is like 28’. She just walks the line around and around occasionally turning midway and walking the opposite direction. In the middle is various plants, rocks, visual barriers etc. but around and around and up and back she goes. 🤔
Not to scale visual for those that didn’t follow my estimated distance/pattern

 

[Wpagey]

I think that they always just want to go farther…

 

[Renee_H]

I think that they always just want to go farther…

That makes sense. I kinda feel bad when I watch her like she’s just hoping eventually that next wall won’t be there and she can just keep going.

 

[wellington]

That makes sense. I kinda feel bad when I watch her like she’s just hoping eventually that next wall won’t be there and she can just keep going.

Can she see thru it? They will still walk perimeter but lot less stressful if they can't see the other side of the fence.

 

[Renee_H]

Can she see thru it? They will still walk perimeter but lot less stressful if they can't see the other side of the fence.

At some points. The bottom board has a top board that makes a T so she never walks toward it nor does it seem she’s looking that way. I have additional boards I can add but haven’t because it hasn’t seemed to be an issue. Hmmm. This was the first photo I could find that shows the bottom of the fence. Maybe I’ll go ahead and add the extra board. She doesn’t seem stressed, just hopeful 😂. I was just curious. I’d like to see her using more of her space. lol

 

[SinLA]

Is it an open space or do you have site barriers? Sometimes that helps them think the space is larger than it is.

 

[Renee_H]

Is it an open space or do you have site barriers? Sometimes that helps them think the space is larger than it is.

Site barriers

 

[wellington]

I have leopards and they roam a path they have each made, they are in their own enclosures. They start where their door is, go to one of the fence lines, walks that then crosses over to the other side fence walk that and then back over again. The one uses most of his enclosure, the other leaves about a 1/3 of his untouched. Each enclosure has shade from a shared tree and lots of tall grass, weeds, etc. They still stay within their path and will reach over to the patches of weeds and grass they don't walk in to eat but they still always travel their same paths. I wish the one would use the other 1/3 but their tree is at the start of the 1/3 and he goes as far as the tree. I don't know what we could do to get them to use all of it. I tried hides at the end and even a water hole, but he still stops at the tree.

 

[SinLA]

Site barriers

See the flexible vertical wall I have in mine? Something like that to create more of a maze like feel…

 

[Chubbs the tegu]

I dont know if anyone will ever know the answer besides the tort. I like to think guarding his territory ( just coz thats bad a$$)

 

[Renee_H]

I dont know if anyone will ever know the answer besides the tort. I like to think guarding his territory ( just coz thats bad a$$)

Ohhh I like this theory!