Been a long time since I’ve given any updates, but I’ll try to remember all that’s gone on all summer and fall to keep you in the loop, so to speak.
It was a real busy season for all kinds of turtles and tortoises, and fortunately homes were found for all adoptable turtles/torts. I think my last count was something like 36 Sulcata that were placed. I’m sure there were more than those and once I get through all my paperwork I’ll have a more accurate number. We had several Sulcata that were dumped at the local ecology site. One in the greenhouse which was probably the worst place for dumping since they use chemicals on their plants; the other was dumped in the field on a cold Friday night after all the staff had left. Luckily security spotted him and called one of them back and they brought the tort here. If he had found his way into the woods surrounding the place he surely never would have survived the winter.
Please, if you have a tortoise or turtle that you can no longer keep, seek help, don’t dump it.
Unfortunately as of July 1st new regulation went into effect in Florida and no more Red ear slider turtles are permitted to be shipped into the state as pets. We had one person there with a huge pond that was accepting all that we couldn’t find homes for. Now that we can’t ship to her any longer, we are forced to turn away many, many RES. If you or someone you know has a large secure pond and can accept even one RES it would be a great thing to do. I hate turning them away as I’m sure many are being dumped, but I just don’t have the space here to house any more than I’ve already taken in. Of course I still take emergency cases like abandoned or hit by car, etc., but no longer can take them from everyone like we used to. I currently have two needing homes, so if interested let me know. A young female approx. 4″ and a teeny tiny hatchling.
Box turtles came in regularly this year. Many were missing limbs or need to have limbs amputated. Very sad. Some came in just needed treatment and were released again. My favorites, but those with no back legs, or loss of habitat, etc needed to be placed. I’ve got several here for the winter, some of which can be released in the spring. One a cute little fella that was chewed on by something on both carapace and plastron. A truly holy turtle, but he’s healing well and looks like release will be possible with him. Lots of turtles with ear abscesses too. Another I have here now with swollen shut eyes and respiratory, but again, should be releasable come spring.
We got in a really nasty looking Russian tortoise. Poor thing was kept in a ten gallon tank for at least ten years. Poor diet, no uvb, no water. How he survived is beyond me. He had a leg so swollen it protruded over the rear of his carapace. He also had a lump on his chin. By the good treatment of our vet Dr. Greco of Centereach, the surgery he performed to remove the cysts (three in all) was very successful and he was able to save the leg. The tort recovered really well, regaining use of his leg and has been adopted to a great home.
We had the TRLI BBQ on July 14th, and I think a great time was had by all that attended. I think there was something like 35 people here. Guests came from all over including Colorado, New Jersey, Ma and of course New York. You can see some photos here: http://www.turtlerescues.com/gallery2/main.php?g2_itemId=3763
Our Fall Raffle Fundraiser was a great success thanks to all that donated not only prizes for our raffle, but bought tickets to help support the work done here. Thank you to everyone that did donate, it is greatly appreciated. I’ve even been getting contacted by some wonderful people to donate for next years raffle. It never ceases to amaze me how wonderful you people are and how supportive you have been. I feel blessed to have such a wonderful supportive group of tort/turtle lovers.
To see some of the rescues your donations have helped, go here:
http://www.turtlerescues.com/gallery2/main.php?g2_itemId=1272
And to see the winners of our raffle items, go here:
http://www.turtlerescues.com/gallery2/main.php?g2_itemId=4047
I’ll try to be a little more diligent with my postings, but in the meantime stick with the Yahoo group to keep up to date on happenings.
Thanks again to everyone who supported us through our fundraiser.
Julie and the gang at TRLI