Urgent Care :: Lost

[laturcotte]

I have 2 RES. during winter they live inside then June they move to the pond. Well the weather was beautiful so I put them in a closed in flower bed where I dug out a spot for a plastic tub filled with water. Both travel this area and running back to their water. Well one time when I checked the Moose was digging herself into the mulch. Mrytle was exploring, 10 minutes later Moose had dug in and covered up, Mrytle was still exploring. 20 minutes later I go out to undig Moose and bring them in the house, Mrytle is nowhere to be found. I can only think she has dug herself in also. Tell me about this someone. It will get about 40 tonight, will she come out tonight, in the morning, does she plan on coming out at all. I left the water in the bucket, I thought she should be getting hungry. They eat every night at 5pm, it's after 7pm. Have I killed her? I checked everywhere and there is no way she got out. Help.

[DavidY]

As the temperature drops the turtle will not come out, her metabolism will slow down. How big is she? Are you sure she didn't escape by digging under the fence?

[grey goose]

Look at the flower bed for any spots that look disturbed. Dig around with your fingers. Carefully check along the fence line, she may have wedged herself in and got stuck. Lift the tank out and look under there. If the flowerbed is enclosed, she must be in there somewhere.....

[steve]

Please read this:

www.redearslider.com/lost_turtle.html

You need to keep looking and check everywhere, then check again. Do not underestimate their ability to hide or escape. Good luck!

[laturcotte]

When I first started putting them in the area I tested the fence by trying to fit Mrytle through, she is about 5 inches, Moose is 6 inches. She wouldn't fit. Moose dug herself down into the mulch until she reached the felt, she completely covered herself. Mrytle just kept swimming and walking the fence line. They are so smart, the minute you open the gate she would run for the opening. Anyway, they were never out there by themselfs for more than 10 minutes all day, i had alot of yard work. Then the last time I saw her company showed uup they saw her and then 20 minutes later i check...gone. I was up most of the night walking the yard. We also have a yard that is totally fenced in. There is only one place she could get out and then there is woods. If by some miracle she got out of the flower bed she probably headed for that escape route. I am totally heart broken. I am waiting for my son to come over (my husband is away) and get down and look and dig under this mini pine tree., moose dug in front of the tree. There is no movement of mulch anywhere else in the bed. I keep going out to look, it is pretty cool out, if it warms up maybe she'll come out. I can't stop crying!!!!!

[octpusgirl8]

I'm so sorry, i can't imagine how you must feel. Check everywhere, even places you think she couldn't possibly be, and keep your hopes up.

[laturcotte]

Can you tell me why moose buried herself?

It wasn't hot about 70 with sunshine. That was the main reason for putting them out there for real sunlight.

I realize the RES only eat underwater, how long can she go with food. She ate about 8:30am Monday morning.

I tore up all the mulch, she did get out i thought maybe she made way down to the front pond but no luck.

For the new pond our plan is to enclose it with very small chicken wire. We were designing it so they would have lots of place to get out and dig, I just never thought they would buro and sleep. Should I just make it a pond and not land. Now I don't know what to do.

[DavidY]

She probably dug herself in if she was trying to lay eggs (which adult females can do whether they have been mated or not). Turtles can also go quite a while without food if necessary since they are cold blooded. The relatively cooler weather will also slow their metabolism down as well, so if she is a healthy adult, she could survive for a few weeks or more. If you have a pond nearby she will most likely make her way there. What part of the country do you live in? There's a very good chance that even if you can not find her, she will live out a happy healthy life as long as she can find a pond or lake to live in. But hopefully she hasn't gone far and you will be able to find her again.

[laturcotte]

We live in Massachusetts on the side of a mountain so the only water except 1,000 feet down is my pond. I go out every hour to search. this has been a awful month so far. I have a small rescue and one of the goats took extremely sick this week. Thank you for letting me talk, it helped, my husband is away this week and I needed to tell someone who could relate to my feelings, these animals become part of the family like one of the kids. Thank you again.

[marisa]

I hope you find your turtle...Is she was in a relatively open space, Moose probably buried herself to hide for protection. When they lay eggs, they dig with their hind feet and don't cover themselves up.

I'm in CT, and it's supposed to be pretty warm here today and tomorrow. If it gets really warm where you are, hose down the area you had them in for moisture, also make a little pool (use a shallow pan with a ramp, for example)if she's anywhere nearby, the water might attract her. She's not likely to walk around in the heat of the day, your chances of finding her are better earlier in the day or later in the afternoon.

Good luck.