I live in Tucson,AZ and found about a 10 inch long Desert tortoise
walking around my backyard yesterday morning about 9am.
It was eating some wildflower that grow in my backyard.
I have a large path of Aloe Vera in my back yard and watched as the
tortoise went into a hole it has dug out into the center of the patch. looking closer I see it has another entrance or exit on the otherside of the aloe patch by the block wall of the yard.
I have no idea how long it has lived in our yard.
The open desert area behind our house has been developed into a housing subdivision over the last 2 years.
We are over joyed to have this new vistor in our yard but was wondering if their is anything we need to do to insure its good health and safety?
should we feed it or let it find its own diet. we have water we put out for birds and a stray cat that hangs out in our yard.
can a turtle drink from a shallow bowl?
We also noticed that ants were getting on him in the yard.
The rainy season has brought out alot of ants and bugs. I have not sprayed the yard with bug killer as I don't want to harm the birds,cat and a ground squirrel that visit our yard and now we have a turtle to also think about.
We are in our rainy moonson season here in the sonoran desert where we can get large downpours of rain very quickly.
I don't think the aloe patch area floods but if its has dug a deep burro it is possible it could flood with water temporarly.
Any help or advise you experts can give would be appreciated.
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Sonoran Desert Tortoise
Replies (1)
You can try and 'save' it (if you look further into tortoise keeping, especially on the net you'll see my point) or you can let nature take it's course. Urban sprawl is taking it's toll but it would seem that the Desert tortoise is extremely adaptable if it is given a chance.
Placing a water bowl is not a bad idea. That is not interfering too much but if you get involved more than that you might as well 'save' it. You might want to contact the Sonoran Desert musuem and ask for their advice. I'll bet they can help.
Me?... I'd leave it alone in that situation. Again, the water dish is a good idea.
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Ed @ Tortoise Keepers
Trying to keep the fun in Chelonian care
