Dear ATR Members and Friends:

The recent Malibu fires put quite a strain on the rescue and us.  On both occasions, the flames and smoke were too close for comfort but the second one resulted in a mandatory evacuation.  We stuffed lots of turtles and tortoises into wet pillowcases, which made them less than happy.  Animal control picked up the big ones like Rosie, Tank and Popcorn and took them off to a shelter for safekeeping.  Once everything was back to normal, they came back and the ones who were hibernating were glad to be back to sleep in their safe houses.

After 17 years of rehoming more than 3,000 turtles and tortoises, we will no longer handle adoptions or relinquishments.  Please contact the organizations listed below that can help you find a new home or adopt the wonderful animal of your choice.  American Tortoise Rescue will be spending its time now exclusively advocating for turtles and tortoises just as we have in the past but with more fury.  We will continue our crusade to publicize the issues that affect them throughout the world, including habitat destruction, the live food markets in the US, the looming legislative issue allowing turtles and tortoises under four inches to be sold again after a 33-year ban and the cruel pet trade, among other problems.  We've had a great ride doing adoptions, but we feel that we can be more useful pressuring the bad guys, stopping cruelty and educating everyone about the care and feeding of these wonderful creatures.  No other turtle/tortoise organization has been as aggressive in this particular fight as ATR, so by reducing the thousands of hours it takes to do adoptions, this will allow us even more time.  This takes money and support, so please continue your generous donations and writing to legislators or signing petitions.  We will continue to house and care for the more than 100 turtles and tortoises who have found sanctuary with us.  Other sites that can help:

-- www.swhs.org                -- www.tortoise.org (see a listing of all their California chapters on the site)

-- www.turtlehomes.org      -- www.turtlebunker.com

-- www.sdturtle.org            -- www.tortoisetrust.org

-- www.nytts.org                -- www.indianaturtlecare.com

Hibernation Tips

Remember skinny or sick animals should not hibernate nor should African and warm weather tortoises like Leopards, Elongatas, Sulcatas, Redfoots, etc.  For them, you must provide consistent warm temperatures with a Kane heat pad available from www.beanfarm.com all year.  I do not recommend hibernating any animal under three years of age.  Hibernate deserts, Russians and others in your house in a cool room (under your bed is fine).  Because we have safe concrete houses with doors for our guys, we let everyone hibernate outside.  If you cannot provide this kind of shelter, bring them in.  If it rains a lot they can drown in their burrows as boxies like to screw themselves way down in the dirt.

Myths and Truths

Common Q and As

I have my babies on ground coconut shells I bought at the pet store.  Is this OK?   Virtually everything that pets stores sell you as substrate is pure crap and deadly for your pet.  The only safe thing to use in a tank for your hatchlings or juveniles is newspaper (flat) or paper towels.  The tiny guys eat the shells and other stuff by accident, get impacted and die.  Also poop and pee stays hidden under the shells making an unhealthy bacterial soup. 

What is that chalky white stuff that comes out of my tortoise?  That is normal and is the elimination of urates.  It should be the consistency of egg whites or Kraft Marshmallow Fluff (yummy with peanut butter).  If it is hard or very chalky, you need to provide more water as this could be a sign of dehydration.  Which brings me to the other part of the answer – YES!  All tortoises and turtles need access to water.  We use clay saucers – easy to clean and look nice in the garden. 

At The Rescue

Tank is living up to his name by turning Popcorn over several times a day and by butting his head into the side of the leopard yard, staying in position and running with his back legs.  His head is bending the steel walls.  When we look out the window, his head is in and he is stationary against the wall looking extraordinarily dopey.  We put concrete blocks up against the wall to save it, but he moves them out since he has nothing else to do all day.  The tortoises love pumpkin so we cut it up and leave it in the yard (supposedly it is a natural dewormer).  A small Russian says if she can’t beat ‘em she’ll join them (see photo).  She’s on top.

Mudboy, Spinner (paralyzed from some kids and goes in a circle), Sushi (has no feet thanks to mites the owner missed) and Potato Chip (a seven year old box turtle that is the size of a 50 cent piece and looks like a dried up chip) are known as the bucket brigade.  They are too messed up to stay outside all the time, so they go out every day for some recreation and sun time.

Donations Are ATR’s Lifeblood

A super young man, Aaron Crasnick, made his Bar Mitzvah October 13th, and thanks to his creativity and thinking of others, he used baskets with items for the tortoise rescue as centerpieces at his celebration.  These items, valued at $500, included items like printer cartridges, office supplies and other items we desperately need here at the rescue.  He also gave similar baskets to other environmental and animal groups.  And he built a turtle house as well! Aaron, you are amazing – your parents, Keith and Judy, must be so proud.  Dia Collins (www.getcreativewithdia.com) put the whole event together and she would love to do the same for you!

Thanks to Wardley and Reptomin for their great generosity in donating water turtle food.  It is a huge expense and they have been very generous.   The City of Malibu provided a much-needed $1,000 grant for vet bills – thank you!  We are nonprofit and don’t take salaries, so all the money goes directly to the turtles.  The more you donate the more work we can do on behalf of all our guys.  Click on “Please Make A Donation” at www.tortoise.com or go to www.networkforgood.com, www.EarthShare.org or www.tricordia.com. 

Also thanks to Roger Hall at http://www.inkart.net whose scientific drawings of turtles and tortoises are worth owning.  Please patronize him and buy his wonderful postcards, etc.  He has been very generous to ATR.