While driving through our suburb on the way home a month ago we spotted something in the middle of an intersection, perhaps 30 yards from the bank of a city-owned canal. The canal is a good 30 yards wide and "V" shaped down 20+ feet to a flat, cement bottom. This being a dry winter, there's been no water in it. The "something" was what we've learned is a RES, 6" wide and 9" long, as best we could guess by holding a ruler above it. From what we can tell from front claws and rear tail it's a male.
With the canal so dry we brought him home. Almost immediately after putting him down, he made a bee-line for the 10' W x 18' L x 3' deep lily pond, and slid in. He seems comfortable, began climbing up to bask after a week, hasn't gone after the goldfish (all between 6 and 8") and is slowly but surely getting used to humans being nearby and feeding him. So far it's only pellets, lily pads and other greenery in the pond.
Will ask in another area about wintertime concerns, but just thought I'd say hello. LOTS to read here.
