General Care Discussion :: San Diego RES Owners - Anyone able to adopt a found RES?

[Reel Girl]

Hey all!

My dad lives in Alpine, CA - on Sunday morning, he found a RES on his back patio (it had crawled inside a basket!)

I haven't seen it yet, he says it's shell is at least 6 inches long. I got him to put it in a large rubbermaid container with a rock/brick for basking and advised him what food would be appropriate.

I am unable to take on another RES at this time (dang, Sheldon is ENOUGH! )

Are there any East County people here who are interested??

I fear he will be putting the RES out in the "country" to live on it's own this week if I don't find a home for it. He is too lazy to bring it to an animal rescue or pet shop or do anything else.

I will also be contacting the local Turtle/Tortoise Society

Thanks!

[Lantic]

It would be better if he was left back in the wild where he belongs. I know they are some lakes around Alpine so we could of came from there.

[Caphits]

I agree with Lantic.

If nothing is wrong with it, it belongs in the wild.

[Reel Girl]

um, we don't have wild RES in San Diego that I know of, I believe this is someone's pet that got lost.
The weather in Alpine is not condusive to RES - - -
Am I wrong, is there a wild RES colony in Alpine??

[Caphits]

Hmm.... How "in the city" are you? It probably isnt wild if it was in the middle of a huge city like SD.

[Reel Girl]

Caphits, I am in what is considered the "rural" part of San Diego. Where my dad lives, 20 minutes away from me, it snows.

I am going to "bump" this post to see if any of my San Diego turtle peeps are able to respond. The turtle is still with my Dad, but they are for sure going to "let in it go in the country" if I do not go pick it up (any of you more "mature" members recognizing the guilt trip being put on me - LOL!)
So if anyone in my area can take it, please pipe up, otherwise, I will see what I can do.

[mike hill]

R-girl -- If the turtle just came out of the wild it can certainly go back into the wild. I would suggest that he be put back in a nearby pond or lake. I am sure that is where his relatives came from. m

[theartbook35]

It would be better if he was left back in the wild where he belongs. I know they are some lakes around Alpine so we could of came from there.

Yeah, he should be put back in the wild. Any reptile that is taken from the wild in adulthood, and placed in captivity doesn't do very well and ends up getting stressed out, or sick, or both. This shortens their life span, too.

In some states it is also illegal to remove turtles from the wild and place them in captivity.

[Reel Girl]

LOL. Well, based on your responses, I will tell my dad to let the turtle go in his back yard, that it was probably just a "wild/native" RES that got lost 20+ miles from the nearest pond or water source (aside from manmade "ponds/fountains" in his upscale enclave)! I just didn't realize that the East County mountains were a normal habitat for RES. For some reason, I thought snow would be a problem for a RES.
Thanks so much for your help.

[Reel Girl]

oh, and P.S. the RES would not eat worms, shrimp or anything.
Once they sprinkled in some turtle pellets, he went wild.

Hmmmm..maybe floating turtle sticks are spontaneously produced in the wild of Alpine and that's why the turtle loved them so.

[theartbook35]

oh, and P.S. the RES would not eat worms, shrimp or anything.
Once they sprinkled in some turtle pellets, he went wild.

Hmmmm..maybe floating turtle sticks are spontaneously produced in the wild of Alpine and that's why the turtle loved them so.

Older turtles prefer the vegetable like quality of pellets versus proteins.

A wild turtle is much better at keeping a proper diet on its own, versus a captive turtle who will eat whatever is given to them.