tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-19608656.post2890613417148936222..comments2009-05-02T13:32:29.790-05:00Julie Zickefoosehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/06654698829603424649noreply@blogger.comBlogger18125tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-19608656.post-56970607634399490552008-09-22T15:54:00.000-05:002008-09-22T15:54:00.000-05:00Julie,<BR/><BR/> He should be OK, as long as you make sure he has deep shade to retreat to; don't let him bake--they don't like that.<BR/> Should be safe from chipmunks as long as he's 3/4 lb. and has a nice hard shell. I understand that shrews can be dangerous to hibernating box turtles, chewing whatever bits they can reach.<BR/> Ugh.Julie Zickefoosehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/06654698829603424649noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-19608656.post-25332167009373752762008-09-22T15:49:00.000-05:002008-09-22T15:49:00.000-05:00Is my 20 year old turtle safe from chipmunks outside?<BR/>I have been taking him out this summer in the day. He is in a dog crate, the wires are 2" apart.Juliehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/17785118444396642820noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-19608656.post-13627273425161875382008-09-06T05:54:00.000-05:002008-09-06T05:54:00.000-05:00these are great kid and turtle pics! and who doesn't love little turtles? we headstart eastern box turtles and diamondback terrapins where i work....Mary Richmondhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/12987381109911597964noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-19608656.post-12787035671411636102008-09-03T14:54:00.000-05:002008-09-03T14:54:00.000-05:00I loved your post on the box turtles!!<BR/><BR/>I am the "accidental" proprietor of a box turtle ranch here in central CA. Over 14 yrs ago, a friend gave me a small box turtle who at the time was about the size of an apricot. Today, "Peanut" is the matriarch of over 25 baby turtles and she is around the size of a large grapefruit!! <BR/><BR/>Peanut aquired a husband a few years back. Who knew male turtles were so frisky?? Then a friend of mine donated another female that she could no longer care for. Polygamy is alive and well on our turtle ranch and together they have been producing lots and lots of babies!!!!<BR/><BR/>All our turtles live outdoors and have an entire side yard to turtle romp and play. They're out from around late April to late October, then they all go to sleep for the winter. They eat all sorts of plant material, but we also supplement their diets with mealworms, large night crawlers, (get those from the local bait shop) snails from my other flower beds and fresh fruits and veggies. You are right: box turtles are really spoiled....they typically want live food and only certain fruits. I have to let them get a little hungry to get them to eat the veggies.<BR/><BR/>Currently we have hatchlings from last summer (3) that are the size of quarters!!! They are so cute with their bright eyes and perfectly formed little toes and tails!!!<BR/><BR/>I only wish I had somewhere I could take them to return them to the wild....but, they are super-tame and walk right up to people, so don't know if they would make it in the wild.<BR/><BR/>In the meantime, they live in the side garden, guarding my finches and grasskeets in the outdoor aviary!!Patriciahttp://www.blogger.com/profile/03743952805090900134noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-19608656.post-35491891437714614882008-09-02T20:02:00.000-05:002008-09-02T20:02:00.000-05:00I am currently tortoise sitting for my niece whose Russian tortoise is named....Shelly! Thanks for sharing this story!MicheleRFhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/08501279484761638086noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-19608656.post-53010481801071289052008-09-02T18:03:00.000-05:002008-09-02T18:03:00.000-05:00Lovely, lovely post and pictures. Year's ago I would rescue turtles from the roadside, but it has been many years since I've seen a turtle locally. The turtles and turtle lovers everywhere are grateful for your work.Kathleenhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/01740696035980768212noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-19608656.post-14416207100555620442008-09-02T13:45:00.000-05:002008-09-02T13:45:00.000-05:00You have a cool yard and neat kids.Rondeau Richttp://www.blogger.com/profile/13740342799585280444noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-19608656.post-91432135070814039162008-09-02T05:29:00.000-05:002008-09-02T05:29:00.000-05:00Three years to get to 3/4 pound. Wow. That's some growing to do, and I can see how they need to be a wee bit bigger in order not to be a quick snack out in the wild. Sweet photos of Phoebe and Liam with their charges.Jaynehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/14057094040409159429noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-19608656.post-90704948403131398162008-09-02T01:34:00.000-05:002008-09-02T01:34:00.000-05:00Oh, I love your children. So gentle and wise. Lucky children, lucky turtles.Trixiehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/04765602736333069178noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-19608656.post-9434869375014745202008-09-02T00:50:00.000-05:002008-09-02T00:50:00.000-05:00I miss box turtles, and the many other turtle species, from my Ohio days. Oregon only has two species, Western Painted and Western Pond. I guess I will have to find comfort in watching Tufted Puffins and Varied Thrushes. Thanks for the photos.John Rakestrawhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/17240346776633763687noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-19608656.post-306958264265476852008-09-01T21:29:00.000-05:002008-09-01T21:29:00.000-05:00I would LOVE to do something like this! Not just for the cuteness factor, but for the dwindling numbers. But I assume I'm not qualified--is a license necessary?<BR/><BR/>We've always "rescued" turtles as we find them, and been pretty vocal to others about making efforts to make roadways safe...but to raise hatchlings for release...I'd love to.<BR/><BR/>That last photo of Phoebe--precious. A better friend for girl-talk I cannot imagine.<BR/>I've heard turtles keep great secrets!ninahttp://www.blogger.com/profile/07888238636692649668noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-19608656.post-70921900161352584602008-09-01T21:09:00.000-05:002008-09-01T21:09:00.000-05:00What a neat story....who knew turtles have such personalities!<BR/>Phoebe and Shelly make a cute pair!RuthieJhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/11663411478574192825noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-19608656.post-47455950707524018892008-09-01T20:29:00.000-05:002008-09-01T20:29:00.000-05:00If I were a kid and had a science chimp Mom like you, I'd be in heaven.<BR/><BR/>"...only reptile I've ever seen throw a tantrum." I had to laugh at that one! I want to see a turtle throw a tantrum.<BR/><BR/>Liam loving his Shoomie is a boy's dream and that last photo of Phoebe with Shelly is priceless. <BR/><BR/>From Mary who loves the turtles.Maryhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/02040099513110890878noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-19608656.post-23898895818265035002008-09-01T20:16:00.000-05:002008-09-01T20:16:00.000-05:00When I was 8 years old I tethered a scrap piece of cardboard to the plum tree in the front yard of our brand new suburban home and the "Box Turtle Rescue Farm" was officially open for summer business. I had scraped one too many smashed turtles off the neighborhood streets. <BR/><BR/>At that time the lush oak forests where I lived survived only in photographs -- but that didn't seem to deter the resilient box turtles that had lived in the area for who knows how long - still circumnavigating their birth place on shiny new asphalt streets. I took in about a half-dozen a summer and relocated them to fields and forests seemingly out of harm's reach. <BR/><BR/>In 1969 - if it wasn't box turtles needing rescue - it was "horny toads" or leopard frogs. By the time my sister was 8 in 1975 -- those too only survived in photographs. <BR/><BR/>Now, in 2008 she has to take her kids to the "Oklahoma" exhibit at the zoo to see any of the three.<BR/><BR/>This post brings back so many memories and so many ghosts at the same time. See, I told you I wanted to be Julie Zickefoose when I grow up. That's likely not to change.T.R.http://www.blogger.com/profile/00595967532391171082noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-19608656.post-39063810814683528152008-09-01T18:55:00.000-05:002008-09-01T18:55:00.000-05:00Wonderful!<BR/>We have 4 slider turtles left from eggs we hatched 2 years ago. The long drought gave us an excuse to keep them longer than I meant to ... now it's hurricane season of course, so they may have to stay a bit longer ...Floridacrackerhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/04905593499136090763noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-19608656.post-11244822793123924122008-09-01T17:06:00.000-05:002008-09-01T17:06:00.000-05:00Great photos!<BR/><BR/>We once had a turtle, species indetermined, that I rescued from a busy highway.<BR/><BR/>I tried feeding it all sorts of things; the only thing it would touch (and I found that out by accident after a month of laying out tempting treats and worrying if he was going to starve to death) was fresh morning-glory flowers. They fell from our vines, and he ate them before they wilted.<BR/><BR/>After that, he lived beside the wall where the vines grew, and kept the ground clear of dying flowers.<BR/><BR/>Once I got him to sample a bit of ripe tomato. And maybe he ate insects beneath the vines. But I never caught him at it.Wanderin' Weetahttp://www.blogger.com/profile/11923063322849781223noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-19608656.post-66026236579118429282008-09-01T16:10:00.000-05:002008-09-01T16:10:00.000-05:00Oh dear, I see two somewhat distraught down-cast kids when the turtles need to go wild.<BR/>Shoomie and Shelly! Wonderful names.<BR/>Keep us posted on turtle news.KGMomhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/05165941950953938943noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-19608656.post-13545761481650966522008-09-01T16:07:00.000-05:002008-09-01T16:07:00.000-05:00Sweet, sweet pictures.Lynnehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/09187035706322695138noreply@blogger.com