Habitat - Outdoor :: Going Outdoors

[soomc]

It was hot and dry all week last week. I watered twice each day in hope. It has been 11 days now. Majority around 95 degrees.
There is a neighbor with a daycare . I am hoping one of the kids has a new turtle. I am not going to ask, becsaue I dont want to hear otherwise.
Spiders or locusts would be the only thing getting to him where I live. That is such a sad thought.
Is it possible he squeezed himself into a spot he couldnt get back out of? I realize anything is possible.. but would that happen?
Thanks for your thoughts and suggestions. I appreciate them.

[marisa]

It's possible he's squeezed himself somewhere. The predators I was thinking of were birds and small animals (don't know what you have in Nebraska).

You thought he went under the porch--did you check every nook and cranny under it? Did you go around the foundation of the house (they'll often walk along walls) and lift anything that can be lifted?

If it were me, I'd ask the daycare people. That way, if a child had found him, you'd know it and could end searching for him (and either try to get him back or maybe even help whoever found him learn to care for it). But it's up to you...

I'd still leave out those pans of water...One more thing I've read of people doing (but this was for turtles who got lost inside) was to leave a light on at night near to where a pan of water was. If it's cooler at night but still dark, he'll most likely sleep but maybe he'd be attracted to the light if he's still anywhere nearby.

I'm sorry I can't be of more help.

[GouzlanTheAmerican]

i hope you find him. i lost my turtle out side also and i never found her. so now i have a new turtle. i still miss my old turtle though.

[soomc]

Thanks guys. You're the best.
There are just a couple openings at the foundation of the porch and they are really small. We can't see in them at all. Thats why I wondered if he would cram himself into a spot he couldnt back out of. I dont think he would have had time to get that far in that I wouldnt have seem him. He never went nearthe porch before. He never got himself completely out of view before either. Kind of like a toddler playing peek-a-boo. When their eyes are covered you cant see them.

[GouzlanTheAmerican]

well turtles will go just about anywere that there eys point to. is there anyway that you can get underneath the porch to check?

[soomc]

If I could I would have long before now

[marisa]

Can you pry open some boards?

[GouzlanTheAmerican]

there is probably a good chance that he is under there if you have looked everywere else. i sould keep a lamp out by there with a pan of water so he can get nice and comfy if he sees it.

[soomc]

The porch is all cement.
Its been over 90 degrees for nearly 2 weeks here and we havent had rain. It is really humid. He wasnt very old. He's only a little over 2" long (shell length) I dont see how he could have made it this long. We still sit out and look. We water every day. He is missed. I have no way to replace him here either.

[marisa]

When I saw your name online, I was so hoping it would be good news... I just hope somehow he shows up (did you check with that daycare center?). I have read of a person whose turtle showed up at the door a month after he disappeared, not very healthy, but alive. I hope you're as lucky as the other person was...

[soomc]

Thanks Marisa
That instills more hope.

[soomc]

Last night we dug under the porch till we hit solid dirt - no spaces. (A lot of big ugly bugs) No turtle. The neighbor came by and I did ask.. No found turtle by the kids. I had spoken to the other neighbors prevously.
She said one of her daughters had a turtle several years ago and when she took it outside it would walk to same basic path each time. thats what this one did too. Makes it that much more perplexing that he disappeared.