We pick up stray turtles like some people pick up stray dogs or cats. The other week a turtle wandered unto our yard who we believe was AWOL from the walking path in our subdivision that also serves as a flood control area. Kids in the subdivision love looking for frogs and turtles around the stream in this area. The boys wanted to keep him as a pet but Dad said no he/she is a wild animal and needs to be free. Concerned that the turtle could be harmed if he reached nearby busy streets we placed him in a box and headed for Bear Creek Park.
Bear Creek has a small zoo and a pond area full of turtles. I took the turtle out of the box and placed him near pond and explained to my sons the turtle will charge instinctively towards the safety of the water. Instead, the turtle turned around and walked in the opposite direction of the water. I turned him around to the water and he turned around in the opposite direction. It then occurred to me he was not a turtle but tortoise.
So we drove deep into the park in the woods and released him near a small stream where he would be out of harm’s way from any auto traffic. Turns out it was a Texas Tortoise (Gopherus Berlandieri). A Texas Tortoise may not be as majestic as an African Lion but it was still born free.
[Credits: Video Matt Monro singing “Born Free” video posted by Komodoman; Pictures by Dad.]
Bear Creek has a small zoo and a pond area full of turtles. I took the turtle out of the box and placed him near pond and explained to my sons the turtle will charge instinctively towards the safety of the water. Instead, the turtle turned around and walked in the opposite direction of the water. I turned him around to the water and he turned around in the opposite direction. It then occurred to me he was not a turtle but tortoise.
So we drove deep into the park in the woods and released him near a small stream where he would be out of harm’s way from any auto traffic. Turns out it was a Texas Tortoise (Gopherus Berlandieri). A Texas Tortoise may not be as majestic as an African Lion but it was still born free.
[Credits: Video Matt Monro singing “Born Free” video posted by Komodoman; Pictures by Dad.]
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