I had a friend that would catch box tortoises, place them in the backyard and they'd wander up and down the fence for years. He never had to trim the grass. They'd keep it worn away from the fence. Eventually, they'd find a way to escape, he'd repair the fence and find some more.
Oddly enough, a large red eared slider turtle strolled past the office a few minutes ago. There's a small pasture, which is kept well mowed, and the turtle was in the middle on its way to somewhere.
I've had a red-eared slider for 20-something years. My folks bought it for me for christmas; my sister (who's just finished her second degree) was learning to talk at the time and kept announcing "want to see the swimmy tortoises!" and had to be rushed out of the room. When I moved from Belfast to Oxford I drove over with him in a box and every so often there was an angry hiss as we took a corner too swiftly.
My sister has had a pet box turtle since 1970. Still going strong!
ReplyDelete....and she still can't teach him to fetch a ball.
ReplyDeleteI had a friend that would catch box tortoises, place them in the backyard and they'd wander up and down the fence for years. He never had to trim the grass. They'd keep it worn away from the fence.
ReplyDeleteEventually, they'd find a way to escape, he'd repair the fence and find some more.
Jess, you have tortoises that wander wild round the countryside? What sort of bloody boring country do I live in anyway!
ReplyDeleteWe have tortoises, turtles that live in the bayous, every poisonous snake native to the United States and enough lizards to keep a cat busy forever.
ReplyDeleteYou can keep the snakes, St. Patrick got rid of ours a few hundred years ago. I'll swap you some rain for the shelled creatures?
ReplyDeleteOddly enough, a large red eared slider turtle strolled past the office a few minutes ago. There's a small pasture, which is kept well mowed, and the turtle was in the middle on its way to somewhere.
ReplyDeleteI would love one!
ReplyDeleteI've had a red-eared slider for 20-something years. My folks bought it for me for christmas; my sister (who's just finished her second degree) was learning to talk at the time and kept announcing "want to see the swimmy tortoises!" and had to be rushed out of the room. When I moved from Belfast to Oxford I drove over with him in a box and every so often there was an angry hiss as we took a corner too swiftly.
ReplyDeleteAh that's sweet, Ratz. Well travelled too. My friends took their turtles camping with them (must be a Belfast thing) :)
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