Wife Found Tortoise- What Kind is it?

Jrob

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May 17, 2016
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Location (City and/or State)
San Antonio, Texas
My wife found this tortoise today in the road in San Antonio. What Kind is it?
20190912_153931_large.jpg
 

SweetGreekTorts

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Tucson, AZ
Looks like a young desert tortoise. They are a native, and protected species. It is illegal to remove them from the wild. I recommend returning it to the area it was found, or contacting Game & Fish and letting them take it.
 

Cathie G

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My wife found this tortoise today in the road in San Antonio. What Kind is it?
20190912_153931_large.jpg
Since your wife found it on the road she really did the right thing. Maybe now she taught the tortoise a crucial lesson in life. Roads aren't fun. Release the darling real close to the spot you found it facing home into weeds and stuff. He/she might think twice next time.
 

Relic

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Here
Texas Tortoise (gopherus berlanderi), which is native to San Antonio. From the Texas Parks & Wildlife web page: "A low reproductive rate, historic heavy exploitation by pet suppliers, and other factors have led to a severe population decline of the species. This has resulted in its being listed in 1977 as a protected nongame (threatened) species, thus affording protection from being taken, possessed, transported, exported, sold, or offered for sale."
 

Jrob

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May 17, 2016
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San Antonio, Texas
Thanks for all your help. Tortoise has been released near where caught. I watched him and heading away from road. Hopefully lives a long life and sees no more cars or people
 

Jrob

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May 17, 2016
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San Antonio, Texas
I have a Russian and Redfoot and my wife thought it was a Russian. I looked at box turtles and texas tortoise online and wanted to make sure. Thanks again everyone.
 

Yvonne G

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That's great that you released the tortoise near where it was found! Thank you!!!
 
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