I just found a turtle!

Izzy, mom looked at your crawling rock. I have no idea what she's talking about, but she says it looks like a painted tortoise. She said it was pretty. Mom said she had an idea what foods they likes, but doesn't know what counts as a balanced diet for a tortoise. I believe there's someone on here with another tortoise. Also, you should be able to do some checking on-line. Good luck with your moving rock!

I heard Jordan and Izzy making strange noises from their new enclosure. So I stuck my head out there to see what's going on. I finally clue in and notice it crawling in Mom's rock garden, it's a turtle. I've been looking around online trying to figure out if it's a box turtle or some ort of tortoise. I've always adored Redfoot tortoises. I found one website that says wild box turtles are protected by law here in IN. So if it is a box turtle I'll release him immediately but where's a safe place to release him? There's a creek down the street but I'm concerned that a dog, raccoon, oppossum, neighborhood kid, etc. could hurt him. Any advice would be great.

http://www.indianaturtlecare.com/Q%20&%20A%20Pg%202.html#bookmark9

Here's a link from Indiana Turtle Care,it has some good info. That pic looks like an Eastern Box Turtle. This time of year, they are looking for a mate, the males will travel great distances to find a female, and also, the warmer weather will also make them more active. We had rain yesterday, and this also makes them get out and about more. This time of year, you will often see boxies crossing roads, but it's always best to never take them out of their environment, Instead, we always help them across the road, so they don't get run over. Sometimes they will get themselves stuck in weird places, and if possible, get it "unstuck", and then let him go along his way. LOL. Just today, my mom called me and said they found two along the road down by Raccoon lake, and I told them they have to let them go, as they will not survive in captivity if kept, plus, wild turtles can harbor parasites, as can ones kept captive, so it's not good to take wild ones, OR to set pet turtles free, as they can cause outbreaks of disease in the wild population. I have a three toed and ornate box turtles, both were rescues, and had been hatched in captivity, and I can never let them go in the wild, because of that. If you can, just set the little fella outside, and he will find his way to wherever it was that he was going. Don't worry about him getting caught by an animal, really automobiles are far more of an enemy to them, than animals! ;o)

I was just outside digging up old deck supports and noticed that the turtle was gone. I had put him in Titus' empty babypool. Evidently he was a man on a mission. He made me want to get a redfoot that much more. But until I have a yard of my own for it to roam around, I won't be getting one.

LOL! Yeah, they can sure get away if they want, haha!! Mine live inside an enclosure that my husband made, and it has a top over it, too. ;o)