Reptile & Amphibian Forums

Hello,
I have two RES turtles that were put into our outdoor pond in Southern California, last summer. They flourished and did well until it started getting cold (probably late November), I have not seen them since then. Our pond sides are cement, straight up and down, I thought it would be impossible for them to climb out. But, there is a space behind our waterfall that they would hide in. This space is inaccessible to us, it is narrow and long and you cannot even see the end of it. My question is, has anyone elses RES gone missing for the winter months, and then reappeared? I hope they are hiding behind the waterfall, but I haven't seen them in so long. We also have goldfish in the pond, so I regularly check on them and feed them. Any suggestions for the RES?

Is the bottom of the pond mud? They may be hiding until it gets warm again.
-----
0.1.0 ornate box turtle
1.0.0 eastern box turtle
1.0.0 Yellow belly slider
0.1.0 Red belly cooter
0.1.0 Australian shepard
1.11.0 chickens
1.0.0 Dutch(rabbit)
3.2.0 children (do I still count the married ones?)
1.0.0 husband

In all likelihood they're hiding in that space behind the waterfall. Get a flashlight, or wade in there. You might want to make sure they can get out of it too, or they will drown.

Res's can climb, however, so they could've wandered off. In this case, search.

But I tell you this. I had two res's disappear in an outside pond for over a year and they both came back. Yet your situation is precarious, since you live in the desert. I'd like you to know, too, that an animal could've snatched them if they weren't big enough.

Sorry.

Thanks for the responses.
The bottom of the pond is not mud, it is cement. I hope they are behind the waterfall, there is no way to tell.
I don't live in the desert! I live in Ventura County, and my house is about 30 miles from the beach.
I don't think that they climbed out of the pond, there is a lip around the top edge. I have attached a picture, so others can see my set-up. There is a cave like opening on the right of the picture, where there is a white flexible pipe that goes to the waterfall pump. This is where they are hopefully hiding.
I don't think a critter got them, the fish are fine and all accounted for, and, there has been no disturbance to the pond or plants. The were both around 4" in the summer when they went into the pond.
Thanks for the suggested possibilities and I will just keep looking.

My turtles have made an appearance!
They finally came out from behind the waterfall on April 10th, pretty late for being in Southern California. Anyways, they look healthy and fine and are coming out each evening to be fed. We're very happy and relieved.