Hibernating Russian outside in AZ

[Ramaah]

I am building an outdoor enclosure for a russian tortoise and would like to hibernate him/her outside when the time is right. Has anyone had success hibernating them outside in AZ? If so can you please inform me of your outdoor setup and length of their hibernation as AZ winters are fairly short. Thanks

 

[Yvonne G]

You have to make sure that the "hibernatorium" doesn't freeze. A tortoise's eyeballs will freeze. You have to be sure it will stay dry. If a Russian tortoise gets wet while he's cold he'll die. So, a dry space that stays between 40F and 50F would be quite ok.