Reptile & Amphibian Forums

Hey guys-
About a year ago, my little redfoot escaped from his outdoor pen. He was only a year old, and still very small. This morning, my mom was watering some plants, and who should pop out but the little tortoise! He has been living in the wild this whole time, and doubled in size! The crazy thing is that we live in Florida right on the ocean. His pen is literally 1 step from the dune. At any time, he could have easily walked onto the beach. I'm not sure what he ate and drank. Grass is plentiful, but not much else. The little guy survived freezing temperatures, a hurricane or two, and a drought. It's really cool how these animals adapt. If you want to know more, reply, and I'll answer back.
Thanks!
Brooks

Amazing!!!
Are you going to leave him to live in the wild or take him back? What a GREAT story!!!! WOW!!

And what a beautiful picture...

I agree, great story! The only responsible thing to do would be to take him back.

Wow that is a great story and I too had a tort last year escape from her pen. She was 4 when she disapeared and just a month ago my neighbor found her. He thought she was a funny looking Box Turtle so he asked if it was possibly my Tort. Long behold it was her and not only was she bigger but VERY heavy. I ve got her back with her family and Spring is back here in VA so they spend a lot of time outside. I am very paranoid that one will disapear again but I have put more rocks against the corners so they can't get out( I hope). Here in VA we get alot of cold harsh weather and snow. I find it hard to believe she survived but so glad she did. Here is her picture!

-----
Beardies: 8.13

Pyro-Red Flaming Tiger x Orange German Giant Male
Kai-GG x Orange GG Male
Skyla-GG x GG Pastel Female
Voodoo-Yellow Red Desert Male
Banshee-Orange Sandfire Female
Puff-Citrus x Red/Orange Sandfire Male
Cera-Citrus x Sunburst Female
Moon-Hypo x Snow Female
Jewel-Yellow Sandfire x Orange Sandfire- Female
Ace-Sundial Coral x Snow Male
Sundra-Sunrise x Red/Gold Sandfire Female
Nitro(Stubbs)-GG x GG Pastel- Male Juvy
Rainbow-GG x GG Pastel Female Juvy
Ember-GG Orange x GG Pastel Male Juvy
Wicket-Sundial Coral x Snow Male
Sedona-Blood x Red/Orange Sandfire Female
Seven-GG Orange x GG Pastel Female Juvy
Flame-GG Orange x GG Pastel Female Juvy
Cinder-GG Orange x GG Pastel Female Juvy
Kiowa-GG Orange x GG Pastel Female Juvy
Echo-GG Orange x GG Pastel Female Juvy

Leopard Geckos 6.13

Bonzai-High yellow Jungle Leo Male Juvy(Bruckman's Reptiles)
Basil-High Yellow Jungle Leo Female Juvy(Bruckman's)
Chaos-HQ Red Stripe Leo Male
Swayze-HQ Red Stripe Bold Jungle Leo Female(Hot Geckos)
Rayna-HQ Red Stripe Bold Jungle Leo Female(Hot Geckos)
Ayesha-Outcross JMG x HQ Red Stripe Female(Hot Geckos)
Chaz-High Yellow Leo Male
Asia-High Yellow Leo Female Juvy( Bruckman's Reptiles)
Cyrano-Super Hypo Tang Carrot Tail Baldy Male (Hot Geckos)
Cajun-Super Hypo Tang Baldy Leo Female(Hot Geckos)
Calypso-Super Hypo Leo Female
Bijou- Super Hypo Tang Carrot Tail Female( Pro Geckos)
Inca- Super Hypo Tang Female (Pro Geckos)
India- Super Hypo Tang Female(Pro Geckos)
Arwen-Rainwater( LV)Jungle Albino Leo Male (Hot Geckos)
Aries-Rainwater(LV) Banded Albino Leo Female (Hot Geckos)
Ice-Blizzard Leo Female Juvy (Bruckman's Reptiles)
Blondie-Blizzard Leo Female Juvy (Bruckman's Reptiles
Kashmere-Banana Blizzard Leo Male Juvy (Bruckman's Reptiles)

Tortoises 2.3

Velvet-Leopard Tortoise baby poss male
Marley-Sulcata Baby poss female
Sammy-Red Foot Female
Isis-Red Foot Female
Jade-Red Foot probable male

4.3 Ball Pythons

Stripe Male 05
Black Back Female 05
Het Pied Male 05
Axanthic Female 03
Reduced with Blushing Female 03
Chocolate Reduced Male 04
Banded Male 04

Tarantula's

1.0 Chaco Golden Knee Tarantula(my husband's)Baby
1.2 Chilean Rose Hair Tarantula(my husband's)Babies
1.0 Curly Hair Tarantula(my husband's)Baby

Other Pets:

11.13 Manx Cats
Too many to name here (Adults and Kittens)
2.1 German Shepherds
Danzig(Red Sable)male Search and Rescue Tracking
Sakotah(Black Sable)Male Pup ( Dan/Onyx Pup)
Onyx( Black) Female SAR Air/Ground Scent retired
1.0 Hedgehog-White Wicca
0.1 Giant White New Zealand Rescue Rabbit- Callie
2.2 Chinchilla's-Breezy, Stormy Nights, Myst, Black Velvet
0.1 Eastern Gray Squrriel-Paws (Squrrielee-o)
0.1 Ferret-Jumanji
Mice, Hammies and Rats

Nice story. I wish my lost redfoot would find his way back too.
BTW...that photo looks like the view I have from work in Palm Beach.

Congrats on finding your tort! You must be so relieved, after so long it is like a great present!

That is just awesome! Congratulations on the homecoming.
It goes to show just how resilient tortoises/turtles are.
-----
PHRatz