Hello. This is a sad day for me. In 1999, a California Desert Tortoise my mother found laid eggs, and she gave them to me to incubate for my children. Of those that hatched, I kept two -- Wrinkle and Bump -- who have lived in the enclosed garden off of my bedroom for most of their 12 years. Bump is the burrower, and he prepared their hibernation space under the patio, which they have used for the last decade. I noticed at some point that one of them was partially visible. Periodically in the last month, I'd poke him a little to make his legs wriggle. Today, some visiting children tried to remove him; I thought he had become stuck, but in reality he was planting his forelegs and being stubborn. When we finally got him out it was Bump, which was unusual because he usually entered the hibernation burrow first. When we reached in for my sweet Wrinkle, the friendliest and more outgoing of the two (I never sexed Wrinkle), s/he was dead, obviously for some time, as insects had eaten all but her back legs. Bump is healthy, feisty, and doing fine. I am at a loss in understanding what happened to Wrinkle. My exotic animal veterinarian (to whom I once rushed Bump when he escaped and my dog picked him up and slightly punctured his shell) died recently, and I have no one to ask for an explanation. If someone has any ideas, I would really appreciate hearing them. Thanks.
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