Levi is my 10 year leopard tortoise. At almost 18" long and over 25lbs, he's too large to house indoors. So, he has my entire backyard to call his own and it works well for the both of us.
Unfortunately, being housed in a backyard and not in a dedicated "tortoise enclosure" has some risks. One of which is the backyard gate!! I've heard so many stories of a yard tortoise escaping because the gate was left open or left unattended for too long. I NEVER want that to happen and so the ONLY way to GUARANTEE that it wouldn't happen was to secure a barrier in the door way.
This allows the gate to be functional for humans while serving as an enclosure wall on the tortoise level.
I started with a 2x6 (maybe it was a
2x8?) and secured it to the door way posts. As he's grown, so has the barrier! Thanks to additional 2x2s!
& I'm left with a functioning backyard gate without the worry that Levi will walk out!
I can also use the wood barriers for other purposes, too!
For example, I like to keep Levi off my concrete patio because occasionally, my ankles need a rest:
(hehe those photos are about 3 years old, he looks so tiny!!) But you can see, I've been successfully using these barriers for years.
Did you notice his pacing tracks?! ...that's funny
Anyway, I hope this is helpful to someone else. It's a very easy and affordable insurance for a yard tortoise. Don't be someone who looses a buddy because a gate was left open.
Unfortunately, being housed in a backyard and not in a dedicated "tortoise enclosure" has some risks. One of which is the backyard gate!! I've heard so many stories of a yard tortoise escaping because the gate was left open or left unattended for too long. I NEVER want that to happen and so the ONLY way to GUARANTEE that it wouldn't happen was to secure a barrier in the door way.
This allows the gate to be functional for humans while serving as an enclosure wall on the tortoise level.
I started with a 2x6 (maybe it was a
2x8?) and secured it to the door way posts. As he's grown, so has the barrier! Thanks to additional 2x2s!
& I'm left with a functioning backyard gate without the worry that Levi will walk out!
I can also use the wood barriers for other purposes, too!
For example, I like to keep Levi off my concrete patio because occasionally, my ankles need a rest:
(hehe those photos are about 3 years old, he looks so tiny!!) But you can see, I've been successfully using these barriers for years.
Did you notice his pacing tracks?! ...that's funny
Anyway, I hope this is helpful to someone else. It's a very easy and affordable insurance for a yard tortoise. Don't be someone who looses a buddy because a gate was left open.
