Hey - Hay

Winter is closing in upon Florida. It's cold. I retrieved my spring jacket and gloves from storage. I even put on a pair of sweatpants. The one and only pair I own. I can feel the coldness in the air. My thoughts wandered to my box turtles. The koi have taken refuge at the bottom of the pond and the water turtles are hiding under their overhang. All the critters including myself can feel the seasons changing.

I decided to place some hay in the box turtle enclosure so they can snuggle up and keep warm during the cold Florida winter, I trotted down to the Tractor Supply Store to purchase my hay. The last time I bought a bale of hay was a long time ago so I had sticker shock at the price of one bale of hay. I know all about inflation but this is unbelievable.

I used to buy my hay - one bale at a time - from a local farmer and it was a dollar a bale. At times I thought this was a little pricey. It's hard to price shop for a bale of hay.

My precious bale of hay was almost 7 dollars for one small bale. What? Is there gold in them there bales? Where is Rumpelstiltskin? The nice lady at the register informed me it was Coastal Hay. AND!!!!! Does coastal hay cost more than good old regular hay? Apparently so.

And I thought hay was hay. Come to think about it coastal hay is most likely absorbed salt from the coastal waters and could possibly be filled with a high sodium content. No nutrient labels on my bale of coastal hay. I hope the coastal hay doesn't adversely effect my little box turtles.

Friend or Foe

Interspecies relationships - Is it a good thing? I suppose it depends on the situation and the circumstances.

This past May I received two box turtles. They were ripped from a home that they had known and loved forever and placed with me - this wack person who doesn't know a whole lot about box turtles. The school program they were associated with was closing and Thing 1 and Thing 2 needed a new home and that's how they came to be a part of my menagerie.

They seemed very shy and timid and hung out beneath the bird of paradise bush. Interaction with people was at a minimun. They were adjusting to the new environment. I accepted them for what they were - hermits.

While we were on vacation a very concerned neighbor found a turtle wandering around the cul-de-sac and assumed it belonged to me. He was promptly placed in my turtle pond. I was in for a bit of a shock when I returned home and found this creature living in my pond. As far as I can tell he may be a Mississippi Mud turtle?

He was not happy living in the turtle ponds with my 6 water turtles. He escaped into the box turtle habitat and became very friendly with Thing 1 and Thing 2. All of a sudden the box turtles came out of hiding and have been showing their faces. Strange and bizarre. I am glad they are enjoying their new home and getting to know us. I'm not sure if they like the intrusion of this new turtle and are trying to chase him away or they really like the guy? They are active and I imagine that is a good thing.

I think the Mud turtle is a little confused and taking unfair advantage of the box turtles and the climbing over them is a sign of power or a sign that he needs a mate of his own kind. I'm not sure what to do with this new guys and the boxies are not talking.

Turtle Tracks

I was sitting by the turtle pond just talking to them telling them I missed them. And all of a sudden I see this shell that is lighter in color than is normal. OMG, I think one of the land turtles has fallen in the pond and can't get up. Land turtles are not great swimmers and not smart enough to get themselves out of a precarious situation like a huge pond.

I go into panic mode just knowing my sweet little land turtle will drown. I try to scoop him out but he has grown to a tremendous size. That is odd. He was half that size when I left three weeks ago. Must have been all those worms. He's too big for the net so I call in the cavalry.

Hubby climbs in the pond and searches for the almost drowned land turtle. He does this for me with a heart of gold and true willingness. My hysteria had nothing to do with his pond search. He is such a good man to always come to my rescue. How could I survive without him? Love you snookums!

So he grabs the turtle after several failed attempts and removes the almost drowning land turtle from the pond. Strange - very strange he is not my presumed drowning land turtle. He is a water turtle - but not one of my water turtles. How did he get inside the fence and in the pond? It's an impossibility. A feat only a magician could accomplish. Turtles aren't all that intelligent. I still love them despite that fact.

A mystery of giant proportions. How did this turtle scale a fence and find my turtle pond. Is there a buzz out there in the turtle community about this great place to live? Was it the call of the wild? Is this turtle a closet accrobatist? One escapes out of the pond to the treacherous outside world and another smuggles himself in the pond.


I don't know what the problem is? I give them a wonderful place to live with plenty of food and attention. They have two huge ponds and a very large basking area surrounded by sand. Occasionally they are fed tadpoles, krill and minnows. What more could a turtle ask for? Cooter the biggest of the lot escaped his enclosure while I was on vacation.

I received a call from the neighbor who was caring for them and he said he found the 'big one' walking down the pathway to the backyard. Cooter was just taking a stroll. So Tony picked her up and placed her back in the pond where she belongs. They yard is fenced so she couldn't get out into the dangerous outside world.

Then, the episode circulated around the neighborhood. Turtle escape at the Braun's.

Larry, who is the unofficial mayor of the cul de sac calls Tony and says he has one of my turtles. Tony goes down retrieves the runaway turtle and returns it to the pond. Tony never gave the idea one thought that the house is surrounded by a fence and the turtles can't get out.

This is not my turtle. I have no idea where he came from. He must have heard the word on the street. Now I don't have a clue as what to do with this newcomer? My backyard has become a turtle rescue haven.

Escape from Alcatraz

The turtle pond is getting a much needed makeover. Actually the whole thing is being reconstructed by hubby. He is so good. The old ponds were removed and a temporary pond was set up for the little buddies. The non-permanent pond was placed in the side yard in the full sun with a buffet of minnows to help them cope. Turtles - at least my turtles do not like any type of change or movement of their habitat.

I go outside to check on the buddies and give them some veggies and I notice Scarface the youngest and smallest is AWOL. Never underestimate the climbing power of turtles.

I am in panic mode. Oh no another lost turtle. I thought I had lost Jim the box turtle but he was found safe and within the confines of the fence. We run around the yard in search of Scarface. Horrific thoughts scrambled inside my head. The road, the traffic, the dogs and other predators. I was sick. My baby exposed to all kinds of terror.

He's no where in the yard. This throws me into a total panic mode. Where could the little guy have gone? And then out of the corner of my eye ( without contacts) I see a small rock two driveways down. The rock moves and then so do I. There was the little darling just sunning himself in the neighbors driveway.

I picked him up and gave him a thorough tongue lashing and placed his sorry little butt back in the non-permanent pond and covered it with a screen. Their new home should be finished by late today.

Tank the Turtle

The Third Day Of My New Life

I've spent the entire day inside my burrow. I was quite comfortable and happy for a while anyways. My new owners keep digging me out of my burrow and looking at me in a strange way. They rub my shell and watch my little legs move like a roller coaster and then place me right back in my home with the glass walls. They place me right next to a food dish and then start talking real quietly.

Of course - me - being a box turtle that likes to burrow - I dig down and away I go. I hear their voices and they sound concerned about something. I think they don't understand why I keep hiding in my burrow. I don't know what to say to them so they feel better? I am getting a little annoyed about being snatched out of my burrow every couple of hours.

Tank the Turtle

The second day of my new life

I had a great sleep in my soft and snuggly burrow. I felt safe and secure and the night light my new humans left on for me gave me comfort. After such a rest full night in my new digs I came back to the surface. I know the humans were worried that I would suffocate so I needed to show them I am not a baby. And I am almost big enough to take care of myself. Not that I am all that big - not much bigger than the large silver coins that humans use. Instinct is inside me and they need to understand that about me. I have decided not to be a cry baby.
So, I peak out into the new world and there she is just standing there with a distressed look on her face. I popped my head through the nice soft black dirt and looked straight on at her. This big smile spread across her face and I think she was starting to be a cry baby herself. How strange is that? A human crying because they are happy. I wonder if she knows that I am happy without shedding any tears.
I’m feeling brave and adventurous so I crawl under the huge shell in my new home and turn my head and watch her. She spritzes me with a mist of water and it feels so refreshing. I notice fresh fruits and vegetables in my food dish. This is going to be a good gig. I still miss my old home but I am adjusting to this new environment.
Time for me to go back ‘down under’: It’s not that I don’t want to stay topside it’s just my comfort level is beneath the soil. The darkness eases a little and my eyes adjust to my small burrow and then amazingly out of the corner of my right eye – I spy a movement. I sniff the air. I’m a good smeller. As a matter of fact I know my dad is nearby just waiting for me to get big and join him. A long pinkish thing is wiggling into my burrow. Yehaw – it’s an earth worm. Breakfast buffet at Tiffany’s.

Tank the Turtle

The first day of my new life

Today I went to a brand new home. I was just packed up and carted away. I was frightened. New and unfamiliar places can be scary. My shelter came along with me which made me feel a little secure. And of course my favorite foods were also with me. I love to eat and hide beneath my shelter. I traveled in this rectangular plastic box with my food and shelter. It was a short ride but I felt safe with some of my belongings.

I cried a little when I left my old home. I don’t want anyone to know that I cried because they may tease me and call me a ‘crybaby’. I know that I am a baby but I want to be treated like I am not a baby. After all I am a little bigger than a tiny baby. And I have been taken away from the only home I have ever known so I must be growing up.

I don’t even know why I had to leave my old home? Did I do something bad? Did they not want me anymore? What happened to my family? Will I ever see them again? It seems rather strange but on the ride to my new home I thought I heard my dad and even thought I could smell him. Turtles have an excellent nose for smelling. I know my dad’s scent and it seems to be very close. I feel better knowing my dad is close by and I may see him soon.

This is a very strange feeling to be traveling and going to a new place where you have never been before. I hope this new place will be as nice and peaceful as my old place. I don’t really like this small box that I’m in. I’m so glad my shelter is with me because I will hide under my familiar shelter till I am not so scared anymore.

It seems like the ride is over because all the movement has stopped. I try to look out the walls that confine me but it’s all kind of smoky looking. It has the smell of plastic. The surface is smooth and quite difficult to walk on. I begin to hear voices and they sound excited. I run under my shelter. Something lifts my shelter right off of me. I’m exposed. I huddle in the corner of my boxy confine that is not my home.

Then, some very large humans start talking to me. I don’t know much about human talk because I’m still a baby. If I had to guess what they were saying it would be, “Oh isn’t he just the cutest little turtle you ever saw. What a sweetie.”
They have smiles on their faces and they seemed very nice. I think they like me. And they didn’t call me a baby even though I am a baby. I’ve spent my entire life around humans that love me and care for me. So I know I will be in a safe place with these new humans. I’m still a little scared and nervous so I will stay under my shelter till I feel safe.

A big hand reaches in and picks me up. I’m scared. The hand is gentle and rubs the back of my shell. It feels nice but I keep my head and legs tucked inside my shell. I will not come outside my shell. They are being very gentle with me and are still talking in soft voices. I think I will be safe.

My new people place me in this huge box with invisible walls that I cannot escape through. They lined the bottom of my new home with pebbles. These pebbles are a little hard to navigate. My feet are very tiny and I am having some difficulty climbing over these pebbles and to me they are like climbing mountains. What can I say to them? I’m sure they don’t understand turtle talk. Maybe they will see the trouble I am having navigating these pebbles that seem like boulders. And I’m really thirsty.

I see the new people peering at me through the invisible walls and when I see this I run for my shelter to hide. They still have big smiles on their faces and they seem real nice but I’m still not all that comfortable around them. I see a fresh container of fruit and vegetables. My appetite is not very strong. I need to get used to living in this place with the invisible walls before I start eating on a regular cycle.

Oops, my new people have placed a tub of water in my new environment. It is quite slippery. I need to get out. I’m scared. Oops again. Darn. I’ve flipped over on my back and can’t get out of this mess. I will not cry. If I move my legs really, really fast I should flip back over on my tummy. Oh no, I see movement outside the invisible walls. It’s the new people reaching into my space. I will just pull my legs and head right inside my shell for safety reasons.

Wow, what happened? I’m right side down again. I see the smiling faces of the humans looking through my invisible walls. I head off for the protection of my shelter. And who says turtles are slow? So I guess these smiling face people are looking out for me after all. Maybe I will like them. Now if only they would remove some of these stones. This is rough terrain for a little one like me but the heat lamp feels good on my shell.

I’m starting to think that my new people are filled with love and compassion for me. They scooped me out and placed me back into my traveling bin. At first I thought I would be sent to another location. I was as still as a lump of dirt in the travel pen. I tucked my head and legs inside my shell and did not even start to cry. Well it was just a little cry and my legs did tremble a bit.

My stay in the traveling pen was not long. I was very gently placed back in my new home with the invisible walls. I was placed right on top of some soft brown dirt. Oh, the joy. Dirt smells so good. I suck in the aroma and began to dig furiously with my two front legs. It was easy work and the dirt was light and fluffy. I could smell the aroma of peat moss. I started my first burrow in my new environment.
So, here I sit about three inches beneath the soil feeling pretty happy and secure. I’m still missing my family but this could become a nice place to live. I still have that strong feeling that dad is close by. I can even smell the fresh strawberries that the humans have placed in the little dish by my shelter. I am so glad those rough pebbles have been replaced. I think my crying days are over.
I’m feeling pretty good about this new home and these humans that are taking good care of me. I just might stay here forever and ever. Right now I’m all snug and warm inside my burrow so I just might take a little nap and enjoy my new life.

Tank the Turtle

Happy Birthday to ME. My significant other presented me with my birthday gifts yesterday. The first gift was so little I could barely see it. It was about the size of a fifty cent piece. It was a baby box turtle. It was the smallest turtle I have ever seen. And it is so cute. I have named the baby - Tank. Tank the turtle. He is a hatchling from a teacher who loves animals. And I thank her for this precious baby. Then, we moved on to the two other gifts - waiting outside. Two more big box turtles. Jim will now have a family. I am calling them Uno and Dos or thing 1 and thing 2. It also made the grief of losing Ron a tiny bit easier - although nothing will ever replace the Ronsterman.
Thank you Ms. Fralick for your gift. They will have the bestest home.

Turtle Trawl

It was a quiet day in the neighborhood - until I took the trash out to the curb for early morning Monday pick-up. For whatever reason the noisy trash tuck starts pick-up about 3AM. Unless one lives in a sound proof dungeon there is NO getting away from the noise. It roars and clanks until everyone is awake and out of bed. It must be a law that all garbage trucks make mega noise and start in the wee hours of the morning. Okay a little off track on this thought but that is why I was out front.

I looked across the street and there was a red truck parked in the road. And something was moving beneath the red truck. I watched. It was a slow mover. Then I thought my eyes were playing tricks on me again. I stood by the trash cans and squinted. Intrigue got the best of me. I headed down the cul-de-sac.

Just then at that very moment the guy with the fifth wheeler was pulling up behind the little red truck. By this time I was thinking the object under the red truck was a tortoise. Occasionally they end up touring our street.

So I start out a a fast pace toward the fifth wheeler. He pulls up tight to the little red truck and the object freezes.

I crawl under the truck and it is not a tortoise but a red eared slider. Mr. Smith grabs his work gloves and rescues the slider from beneath the little red truck. HHHMMM - red eared sliders are water turtles and the only water around here is in my pool and turtle ponds. I take the pathetic looking guy home.

What I don't need is another water turtle.What to do with him is the next question? Too many red eared sliders are released into the wilds of Florida. This guy is pretty big so I assume he has not been someones pet for a very long time.

A Rose by any other name

After conversing with a box turtle expert - I'm thinking Jim maybe a JimmieSue. Next time I acquire an animal of unknown sex I need to ponder about the name I choose. A Boy Named Sue - could have a hard scrabble life.
And we do judge people by their names - sad but true. And then there are those nicknames. Sometimes someone lives with a nickname for ever and ever. My husband's family still refer to him as 'Robbie' I won't even discuss my nickname. When I was younger I didn't even realize I had a real name. When someone called me by my proper name I stood and looked off into the distance. Funny how our environment shapes us.
My turtle sign at school was torn down by the torrential storm over the weekend so my task this morning is to make a new sign and rewire it to the fence. I think my project for next year is to make a permanent sign out of wood.
What will the students say when Dudley has her babies?

Return of the King

About a year ago a very good friend gave me the gift of two turtles. She obviously was not a turtle person. The smallest turtle was a red eared slider about the size of a 50 cent piece and was duly named 'Scarface'. Scarface went to live in my turtle pond with Big Al, Cooter, Cracker, Romeo and Juliet. His small size did not intimidate him at all. He fit right in and began living the 'good life'.

Jim the box turtle received his very own special habitat complete with a mini shallow pond for his morning bathing. He began to live the 'good life.'

And we all lived happily ever after. Well, not exactly. Actually a tragedy happened.
Last November about 6 months ago - Jim went AWOL. He was just gone. I was devastated. I had visions of the hawk that had been hanging around the turtle ponds had snatched him up in those huge talons and carried him off. Next I presumed some wild animal like a raccoon or an armadillo climbed over the fence and absconded with my little pet. The fact that armadillos can't climb a fence did not enter my thoughts. Jim was gone and I felt irresponsible.

On Sunday night we had the storm of the century. It rained - flood style- for hours mixed with bolts of lightening and thunder cracks that stood your arm hair on edge. My turtle ponds overflowed and my pool was close to the brink of sloshing over into the yard.

My morning habits of feeding the turtles and having a little morning chat did not change on that wet Monday morning. I walked outside with my container of turtle food - opened the lid to the turtle enclosure and something caught my attention. Standing still with an outstretched neck staring straight at me was one of the turtles. For the life of me I could comprehend how one of the turtles got out of the enclosed habitat. Must have been the Storm?

I walked over to said buddy still standing statue like watching my every move and I yelled. OMG!!! It was the long lost Jim come home to mamma. The little bugger had been gone for 6 months. I cried. No big ugly hawk had carried him away to a sure death. No rabid infected raccoon stole him in the middle of the night. And of course no clumsy armadillo absconded with my little guy.

Last night Jim received a bigger and better and much more escape proof habitat. And now I expect us to live happily ever after. The end.

Turtle Time

These past few days a cloud of doom and gloom has been hovering over my head. Actually it landed - smack - darn hard right on top of my soul pushing me face to face with Mother Earth. And I do so love Mother Earth and all she has to offer BUT removing dried leaves and debris from my nasal passages is not my idea of fun.

A down to earth reality check was needed - immediately. So, I sat down with my turtle friends, Cooter, Cracker, Big Al, Romeo, Juliet and Scarface and spilled my guts. They listened with their heads bobbing just above the water line listening intently to my woes. Never being judgemental or condescending.

No verbal advise from the menagerie just a head nod or a turn of the eyes to stare at me with concern or perhaps looking for a tidbit. It's almost that time of the year for brine fish and they do love their brine fish. I prefer to think they were a shoulder to cry on and not waiting for juicy morsels.

It does the soul good to have a heart to heart with creatures that are so adoring and have the patience of a saint. The cost is WAY BETTER than any shrink.

We Be Friends

Jim the box turtle and Toad the toad, named after the toad character in the book 'Frog and Toad' are just chillin-out in their cement (plastic) pond.

In the mornings I have noticed Toad just a sittin and a chillin in Jim's pond. He doesn't seem to be afraid or worried about me checking him out - it's more like I am the intruder - intruding upon him.

This morning I find Jim and Toad just being friends in the small person-made pond in Jim's habitat.