Hi all,
I just wanted to share a scary situation I had earlier in the week in hopes it saves someone else from having the same problem. This is the 2nd spring/summer where I have had my 2 adult Russians outdoors, you probably cannot tell in the pictures but the ground is sloped with the houses being on the highest point. They have been through many rain storms without any issue however earlier this week Philadelphia got nailed with a dangerous flooding rainstorm (I think it made national news). It came out of no where and poured rain, Prior we had been going through a long dry spell so the rain was not being absorbed as the ground was super dry and couldn't keep up. I kept telling myself they were fine but my gut was telling me to go check. By the time I checked on them ( mid storm) water was mid shin deep. My girls were in their houses which I lifted to found both submerged with only their heads poking out of the water. No doubt had I not gone out when I did they would have drowned. I immediately rushed them inside and put them in their indoor set up with the lamps on to warm them up. While I know this occurrence was a freak thing I will be taking additional measures to increase drainage, if anyone has any suggestions I am all ears. Had I not been working from home due to the pandemic they would have most certainly perished. Moral of the story make sure your enclosures are properly set up, the weather has notably been getting more and more severe as the years have gone on. Thanks for reading!