I had a very scary experience last night.
We were expecting a moderate storm surge due to a king tide coinciding with a very heavy storm (Gulf Coast of Florida), but the water rose much higher than anticipated; even higher than any of the hurricanes I've been through here. By sheer coincidence I woke up at @1:30 am--which was 15 minutes before peak high tide--and while turning out the light on the front porch, I noticed the water was like a lake around the property. Next I spotted the tortoise pen, and the water level was about a foot up the side.
I ran down the steps and through the brackish water half-awake as I readied myself for pulling out six dead Cherryhead tortoises, but--behold--I fished every single one out of the 12' x 5' pen ALIVE.
Not that I'm complaining of course, but how is this possible? Judging by the rate the water was rising, they must have been underwater for at least 20 minutes. I put them in cramped 15gal plant containers and left them safely in the garage with food & water; they seem fine today.
Googling "how long can a redfoot hold its breath underwater" yields nothing at all redfoot-specific, so I am hoping someone here can chime in with the answer.
I never would have lived that down.
We were expecting a moderate storm surge due to a king tide coinciding with a very heavy storm (Gulf Coast of Florida), but the water rose much higher than anticipated; even higher than any of the hurricanes I've been through here. By sheer coincidence I woke up at @1:30 am--which was 15 minutes before peak high tide--and while turning out the light on the front porch, I noticed the water was like a lake around the property. Next I spotted the tortoise pen, and the water level was about a foot up the side.
I ran down the steps and through the brackish water half-awake as I readied myself for pulling out six dead Cherryhead tortoises, but--behold--I fished every single one out of the 12' x 5' pen ALIVE.
Not that I'm complaining of course, but how is this possible? Judging by the rate the water was rising, they must have been underwater for at least 20 minutes. I put them in cramped 15gal plant containers and left them safely in the garage with food & water; they seem fine today.
Googling "how long can a redfoot hold its breath underwater" yields nothing at all redfoot-specific, so I am hoping someone here can chime in with the answer.
I never would have lived that down.