Yesterday a received a phone call from a lady in Chowchilla who was having to sell her house and move into a smaller place. She's 93 years old and can't handle the big house anymore. So, she's moving into a duplex in Fresno - a very nice, exclusive neighborhood, and living next door to a childhood friend that she has known ever since high school. Can you imagine? So, she has to give up her tortoises. She told me on the phone that she has 3 tortoises and a box turtle.
Here is #1 of her group, Rescue #63 (Gert). He's one of the biggest desert tortoises I've ever seen. She got him and #2 from a friend who was moving out of state, and this was about 25 years ago. Both tortoises were juveniles at that time, so they're still youngsters. I estimate about 30-35 years old.
This is #2 of today's group, (Gordo), 2014 rescue #64, same story as #63 above:
And here's where it gets interesting. She found Miracle, #3 of her group and 2014 rescue #65 in her back yard at easter time in 2000. He was a hatchling, so he's 14. She thought he was a baby from her two desert tortoises because she thought that Gert was a female.
And the other one in the wheel barrow, her #4 and 2014 rescue #66 (Sammi Sue) is her "box turtle." Sammi Sue was given to her about 25 years ago and she was the same size then as she is now:
Sammi Sue is a very interesting color for a Texas tortoise. I'm pretty sure I'm going to keep her and add her to my group of Texans.
If you know anyone in the Fresno/Clovis/Madera area who is looking to adopt a tortoise, please have them contact me. I now have 3 adult male CDT, one male Texas tort and one 40lb sulcata looking for homes.
It would be a no-fee adoption, but I have to come to your house and take a look at the yard where you want to keep the tortoise. Please bear in mind that male Texas tortoises are very tough. They're mean and pushy. A male Texas tortoise has to live either alone or with a harem, but not with other males and not with only one female. Male Texas tortoises are even scrappier than male Russians (if that's possible).
Here is #1 of her group, Rescue #63 (Gert). He's one of the biggest desert tortoises I've ever seen. She got him and #2 from a friend who was moving out of state, and this was about 25 years ago. Both tortoises were juveniles at that time, so they're still youngsters. I estimate about 30-35 years old.
This is #2 of today's group, (Gordo), 2014 rescue #64, same story as #63 above:
And here's where it gets interesting. She found Miracle, #3 of her group and 2014 rescue #65 in her back yard at easter time in 2000. He was a hatchling, so he's 14. She thought he was a baby from her two desert tortoises because she thought that Gert was a female.
And the other one in the wheel barrow, her #4 and 2014 rescue #66 (Sammi Sue) is her "box turtle." Sammi Sue was given to her about 25 years ago and she was the same size then as she is now:
Sammi Sue is a very interesting color for a Texas tortoise. I'm pretty sure I'm going to keep her and add her to my group of Texans.
If you know anyone in the Fresno/Clovis/Madera area who is looking to adopt a tortoise, please have them contact me. I now have 3 adult male CDT, one male Texas tort and one 40lb sulcata looking for homes.
It would be a no-fee adoption, but I have to come to your house and take a look at the yard where you want to keep the tortoise. Please bear in mind that male Texas tortoises are very tough. They're mean and pushy. A male Texas tortoise has to live either alone or with a harem, but not with other males and not with only one female. Male Texas tortoises are even scrappier than male Russians (if that's possible).
