Hi Joann. The Leopard Tortoise will not be a good choice for you. They don't hibernate and would need to be kept pretty warm and fed all through the winter. You could do what you are hoping to do with Hermann's or Russian Tortoises, and possibly a couple of other species. If you tell us where you live so we get an idea how cold and long the winters are, other forum members and/or I might be able to help you narrow down your choices a bit more.

Bill Z