Can't believe the strength

[mtdavis254817]

Anybody that knows me, knows that I rehabilitate any injured turtle I come across. Today a buddy calls and says he found a turtle in the road, and it looks like it was hit. I loaded up and went out to meet him....when I saw this turtle I couldn't believe it. It reminded me how much these little guys can endure. . He was definitely hit bye a car with a major shell fracture, but with my experience of healing shell wounds this had to of happened no LESS than a year ago. .. he is completely mobile, has a healthy weight. There is a hole in his shell that you can see healed tissue. ..

 

[newCH]

Poor guy ! He's got some big cracks !

 

[teresaf]

OMG! That can NOT have felt good!

 

[mtdavis254817]

Oh I know. I'm going to take him to my vet and see if he has anything to worry about with his shell having a hole. I want to be able to release him.

 

[Dean Wirth]

Turtles are amazingly strong, and resilient. They are definitely not shrinking violets when it comes to endurance or strength. I feel for the turtle to have endured, and kudos to you for taking him (or her) in.

 

[stojanovski92113]

Oh wow....that's sad...but that's great that you do what you do!!! Great job!!

 

[Blakem]

Wow! I'm absolutely amazed. Just think, the little one got hit, was still alive and eventually decided to keep moving, even out from the location of the accident! Crazy.

 

[mtdavis254817]

It's amazing. . I am surprised ants didn't get to him above every thing else. He is actually very outgoing. He has already ate and does not shy away when I check on him. I can't wait for the vet to look at him.. my wife refers to him as soldier. I have to agree

 

[gingerbee]

Amazing!! Will you keep solider??

 

[mtdavis254817]

I'm going to see what my vet thinks. Honestly if he has lived through this and is still eating and looking for females I don't see why he can't be released. He will go in next Wednesday, I will observe him everyday then make a decision then.. I just hate having to take them out of the wild unless it is completely necessary.

 

[Yvonne G]

LOL! I LOVE that first picture!!!

Yes, it's amazing what turtles can live through. I took in a pond turtle with a healed half dollar-sized hole on top of her carapace. When it happened it had to have been opened to the inside of the turtle. Yet this wild turtle healed and lived with no human intervention. Amazing creatures! I love this little box turtle.

 

[Lyles]

Very amazing indeed. It would be good if any foreign matter be cleaned out of the hole and patch up the cracks with fiberglass. May not be pretty but you could paint the patch with camo. lol

 

[Yvonne G]

No, we don't recommend closing them up with fiberglass anymore. This seals in any germs and might cause infection to happen. It's best to leave them open.

 

[mtdavis254817]

Yea, I would imagine that if it were sealed off it would create kind of a green house effect for bacteria. He has had some good soaks with vitamin and carrot, and has ate a full meal of chicken blue berries and romaine. He is so outgoing and has such a personality

 

[cmacusa3]

Amazing, now I'm going to check on the ones in the road just in case.

 

[mtdavis254817]

I do. I have saved some that were in shock and looked dead. You would be surprised what a little patience and some good soaks can do for turtle in stress

 

[mtdavis254817]

Well took him to the vet. Has w good wait no infection, however with the shell compromised the way it is, he will be housed with me. Extending the box turtle pen 8feet out this weekend. .

 

[G-stars]

Not to hijack your thread but last year I also rescued a ~6" sulcata who had also been run over. She wanted as though nothing happened to her.

Here's some pics.

 

[mtdavis254817]

Wow

 

[4jean]

I'm glad you are going to keep that little guy. I hope you call him soldier. He certainly is special.