When my roommate David and I went to work this morning, we found this guy stranded next to the stairs leading down from the apartment. He’s a yellow-bellied slider, and somehow managed to travel about a quarter of a mile from the nearest source of water and strand himself.
I have a soft spot for turtles, so we rescued him and brought him back to the pond he most likely came from. He was none too happy about it, and spent a great deal of time and energy trying to remove David’s fingers. Not from the turtle’s shell; from David’s hands.
That’s one pissed looking turtle.
That’s one pissed looking turtle.
Awww. Good for you. 🙂
An ex of mine once stopped at the side of the New York Thruway and darted out between cars to rescue a turtle who was crossing the road. Slow turtle versus fast cars was going to end in flat turtle, he figured, if he didn’t help. I still think it’s amazing he didn’t get run down himself, but that’s the kind of charmed life he’s always led…
Awww. Good for you. 🙂
An ex of mine once stopped at the side of the New York Thruway and darted out between cars to rescue a turtle who was crossing the road. Slow turtle versus fast cars was going to end in flat turtle, he figured, if he didn’t help. I still think it’s amazing he didn’t get run down himself, but that’s the kind of charmed life he’s always led…
I am glad you are still rescuing turtles. I am too. 🙂
I am glad you are still rescuing turtles. I am too. 🙂
Turtle ANGRY.
Turtle ANGRY.
I’ve pulled over to rescue turtles, too — good for you!
(Heh — when I was a little kid, a box turtle clamped onto my finger and wouldn’t let go — my Dad was coming over with a pair of pliers to try to get it off, and I kept crying “Don’t hurt the turtle!” Thankfully, it did eventually let go with no lasting damage to either party . . . but I’ve had healthy respect for turtle beaks ever since!)
— A <3
I’ve pulled over to rescue turtles, too — good for you!
(Heh — when I was a little kid, a box turtle clamped onto my finger and wouldn’t let go — my Dad was coming over with a pair of pliers to try to get it off, and I kept crying “Don’t hurt the turtle!” Thankfully, it did eventually let go with no lasting damage to either party . . . but I’ve had healthy respect for turtle beaks ever since!)
— A <3
I would like to point out that if the turtle had a good reason for leaving (not enough food, no potential mates, pollution, driven out by territorial rival, etc.) then you might have made things a little worse for it rather than rescuing it. Unless by “stranded” you meant unable to move, in which case returning it to somewhere it was trying to get away from might only be a slight improvement.
Considering that there was no water, little food (sliders are carnivores), and no prospects for likely improvement in the landing area of the apartment building, I’d say things could probably not have got any worse for it. 🙂
I would like to point out that if the turtle had a good reason for leaving (not enough food, no potential mates, pollution, driven out by territorial rival, etc.) then you might have made things a little worse for it rather than rescuing it. Unless by “stranded” you meant unable to move, in which case returning it to somewhere it was trying to get away from might only be a slight improvement.
Considering that there was no water, little food (sliders are carnivores), and no prospects for likely improvement in the landing area of the apartment building, I’d say things could probably not have got any worse for it. 🙂
aw! so cute! While driving cab, the coolest thing I saw was a traffic jam on a fairly busy side street next to a golf course, with a turtle in the middle of the road slowly crossing. Everyone wanted to see the turtle across safely but no one wanted to get out of their car.
aw! so cute! While driving cab, the coolest thing I saw was a traffic jam on a fairly busy side street next to a golf course, with a turtle in the middle of the road slowly crossing. Everyone wanted to see the turtle across safely but no one wanted to get out of their car.
He looks like a pissed off old man.
Turtles- I know from experience- rarely show gratitude for being rescued. Cheeky things…
Heh. I’ve owned several turtles, and they rarely show gratitude for much of anything.
Or any other emotions, for that matter, now that I think about it.
He looks like a pissed off old man.
Turtles- I know from experience- rarely show gratitude for being rescued. Cheeky things…
I once rescued a turpin. (I think thats what they are called.. its a small sharp faced turtle). It rewarded me by peeing on me. Not normal pee.. greenish black foul smelling slime-pee. A skunk type response maybe? It was more than a little nasty, specially as I was on my way to a friends house.
A terrapin, perhaps? That sounds…rather nasty.
I once rescued a turpin. (I think thats what they are called.. its a small sharp faced turtle). It rewarded me by peeing on me. Not normal pee.. greenish black foul smelling slime-pee. A skunk type response maybe? It was more than a little nasty, specially as I was on my way to a friends house.
Grumpy turtle!
I once saw an innovative way of removing a large snapping turtle from a very busy intersection–grab the nearest campaign sign/posterboard/whatever, get said snapper to bite the sign, and use the sign to drag the turtle out of harm’s way. Now the turtle is safe, and you still have all your appendages.
Grumpy turtle!
I once saw an innovative way of removing a large snapping turtle from a very busy intersection–grab the nearest campaign sign/posterboard/whatever, get said snapper to bite the sign, and use the sign to drag the turtle out of harm’s way. Now the turtle is safe, and you still have all your appendages.
Heh. I’ve owned several turtles, and they rarely show gratitude for much of anything.
Or any other emotions, for that matter, now that I think about it.
A terrapin, perhaps? That sounds…rather nasty.
Nice you saved him! I’ve done that too…
I have a pet slider, his name is Gamera. He’s cute and he hisses when you put your hand in his house. He’s never bitten me tho.
Nice you saved him! I’ve done that too…
I have a pet slider, his name is Gamera. He’s cute and he hisses when you put your hand in his house. He’s never bitten me tho.
If anything like this ever happens again I have a tip for you back from my old days interning with the NYS Department of Environmental Conservation.
Take a cloth bag, a canvas reusable shopping bag that you can get at the store is perfect, and drop it over the turtle, or whatever else you’re rescuing. Make sure you cover its eyes. Then pick it up and put it in the bag and carry the bag by the handles. They won’t fight if they can’t see, and once you’re holding the handles of the bag they can’t get at you.
If anything like this ever happens again I have a tip for you back from my old days interning with the NYS Department of Environmental Conservation.
Take a cloth bag, a canvas reusable shopping bag that you can get at the store is perfect, and drop it over the turtle, or whatever else you’re rescuing. Make sure you cover its eyes. Then pick it up and put it in the bag and carry the bag by the handles. They won’t fight if they can’t see, and once you’re holding the handles of the bag they can’t get at you.