The Beautiful Sulcata -- This Year's ThrowAway Pet

For More Info on Sulcatas…

Purchase "The Great African Spur Thigh," by Richard Cary Paull, available through Green Nature Books, 305-242-1317; or on the web at www.herp.com/green/

Thanks to our recent donors from all over the country. 

The Hospital and Burn Fund continues to grow (both the surviving tortoises seem to be doing very well).  You have been so generous.  Thank you!

The Brynildsen Family                                                         Laurel Betz

Dean Stewart (four times!)                                                 Curtis (the Tortoise) Mahan

Cheryl Doty                                                                           Shawn Beach

Stephanie Taylor                                                                  The Cachopo Family

Laureen Mitchell                                                                  Betty Mitchell

Richard Sundell (three times!)                                           Duane Carraher

Paul Johns (twice!)                                                              Carolyn Saltzman

Joshua Tree Turtle & Tortoise Rescue                           Sidney Mondschein

Karen Sullivan                                                                      Kevin Crupi

Coren Family                                                                         Traxler Family

Patrick Cranshaw                                                                Stephanie Taylor

Bryan Family                                                                         Elizabeth Bales

Rebecca Brams                                                                    David Taylor

Bette Lowery                                                                        Richard Gutierrez

John Higuera                                                                        Rineer Family

Judythe Isserlis                                                                   Anonymous Friend

Patty Turbyfill                                                                       Notre Dame Academy

Arnold Shapiro                                                                      Marti Rae Armington

A Day at the Shelter    

Many of you probably wonder, “What’s it really like at that place called American Tortoise Rescue?”  So we thought that it would be good to describe a typical day.  ATR is home to about 75 - 125 turtles and tortoises of all species.  That number goes up or down depending on how many little guys need our help and how many people are adopting.  Summer months are very busy, but winter months are blessedly slow.  Since we started keeping records a couple of years ago, we are almost at our 1000th rescue.  We adopt out healthy, relatively stress-free tortoises and turtles, most of which are deserts and sliders.  The injured, ill, deformed, stressed out and abused ones stay with us permanently.

The shelter is located on a I ½ acre site in Malibu, Calif.  The good turtles are allowed to go surfing or horseback riding a couple of times a week.  Shortly after we moved in, we built wonderful (and very expensive) fenced enclosures for them.  We have a main yard, two "big" tortoise yards, and a "wet" yard with an artificial in-ground pond.  We are about to add another large yard and need help building it.  Donated wood or cinderblocks, etc. are always appreciated.  We have not been able to afford top notch electricity and water connections - what we have now is dragged out from the house…so if any handy turtle lovers out there would like to help us make that happen (or can turn us on to inexpensive contractors), we need a special angel with about $2,500…

The turtles and tortoises are left wild and natural looking so that they think that they are still in the wild.  We rarely handle them, although we do sit on the ground with them and frequently talk to them.  This gives us an opportunity to inspect them for problems and to determine how they are adjusting.  Even though we treat them as turtles and not pets, some cannot seem to understand that they are turtles.  They think that they are human or we are turtles.  They run after us begging for food or worms; they sit down next to us and rub on us; or they just look up with big red eyes and say please give me some food lady!  The sick ones stay in the house in either my office or Marshall’s.  They stay in boxes, tanks or black office trash baskets turned on their sides with heating pads in them.  Unfortunately for me, but lucky for them, my office stays about 90 degrees during the day.  Here they receive ointments, injections, tube feedings, etc. until they are well enough to move to the “playpen.”  This is a very large moveable wooden pen with chicken wire right outside Marshall’s office where the ones who are just about to be released into the regular rescue stay.  This way we can easily bring them in night to keep them warm.  The turtles that are too small to be outside stay in tanks in our offices or in the kitchen.

When a turtle or tortoise us admitted to the rescue, we fill out an “Intake Form” and take a newcomer a photocopy of the plastron and a Polaroid photo (expensive but it helps us keep track).  This gives us a chance to inspect each closely, document an overview of the condition that the turtle is in, where it came from, vet visits, feeding habits, medications needed, weight, length, permit number, name, etc.  Then the new turtle is kept in a holding area to make sure that it is healthy and ready to join the main yard.  If we keep them there too long they get stressed when they move again so we make this transition as quickly and smoothly as possible.  They move into one of the yards or ponds and then settle in.  If they need additional worming they get a pretty little Band-Aid on top of the shell to remind us when it is due.

The day begins with food preparation.  The sick ones get special treatment.  Their food is grated or cooked to order.  The healthy ones get worms, vegetables, bananas, some lettuce, tomatoes, prepared tortoise food, figs from our tree and whatever the local market will throw our way.  We feed the tortoises every other day.  This is because over feeding causes what is known as "pyramiding" or the hand grenade look.  This is when the shell is not smooth and flat but very bumpy.  This is bad for your tortoise.  It means all the calcium that should be evenly distributed throughout the shell is concentrated in the tops of the bumps.  On necropsy, after the tortoise has died, the shells are paper thin and not a quarter or half inch thick like they should be.  Please do not feed your tortoises protein like cat/dog food/meat or feed them too much food.  This can bring an early death to your tortoise.

I got carried away for a minute.  After all the turtles and tortoises are fed and watered, we spend some time giving worms to the box turtles and other carnivores.  Many of these guys chase us around the yard begging.  We buy 3000 superworms at a time and keep them in a big Rubbermaid container off the ground.  We add vitamins, potatoes, oatmeal and other foods to the container so that the worms will have food and pass on the nutrition to the torts.  We also check everyone for abscesses, poor weight gain, running noses or eyes, bleeding (mating can be very rough) and other injuries.  Anyone who is ill comes into the house/hospital.  Once a month I have the joyous duty of pumping the water turtle pond.  It is a lousy job, but it gives me a chance to really inspect the little buggers. 

Finally dusk arrives.  The turtles are in their beds.  We plug in the heated dog houses, and make a last run of the yard (new  tortoises usually end up in some weird place and need to be escorted into their houses).  After picking up old food and trash, we're all done about 8 p.m.  It's a long day.  And this is not our real jobs.  Fortunately we work at home so we can check the guys during the day if need be.  We try to do tours on the weekend since we work at home.  We also try not to do too much turtle calling during the day, so sometimes we cannot get back to people right away.  E-mail is the best way to reach us.

Fluker Farms Does it Right

We continue to recommend Fluker Farms Aquatic Diet for water turtles.  It is highly nutritious.  Contact Waco at 800-735-8537 for more information and a store near you.  Please mention ATR.

Effective immediately - new address for ATR!!!!!!!!!!

23852 Pacific Coast Hwy

Suite 928

Malibu, CA  90265

Phone:  800-938-3553

FAX:  310-589-6101

E-mail  turtleresq@aol.com

Web    www.tortoise.com

The website is being completely revamped so stop by.

ATR to the Rescue

Watch out for Poison Plants

Many people let their reptiles, especially turtles and tortoises, roam around the yard.  While intentions are good, there are many poison plants out there.  Here is a small list of some not to plant in your garden.  If you want the full list, send a SASE

$ .33 (#10) to American Tortoise Rescue, 23852 PCH, Suite 928, Malibu, CA  90265.

Dogwood (fruit slightly poisonous)                       Elderberry                 Buttercup (all Parts)

Bottlebrush (flowers)                                              Castorbean (seeds are fatal!)       

Calla Lily (all Parts)                                                  Daffodil                      Elephant ears

Cherries (twigs and foliage)                                   Azaleas                      Apple seeds

Marijuana                                                                  Rhubard                     Toadstools

Tomato!!!!! (foliage and vines)                               Sweetpea

Care of Desert and Texas Tortoise Hatchlings

Shells will remain flexible for a few weeks, but should harden with proper care.  If your baby has a yolk sac do not remove it!  It will bleed to death.  Instead let if completely absorb.  Do not attempt to figure out what sex it is -- you can't tell until they are at least five years old...sometimes as long as 8 or 10.

A glass aquarium is fine to house babies.  Line the floor with newspaper - every other substrate in any turtle cage is dangerous!  Cut up a box so that they can go inside for sleeping.  Keep them warm - about 75 to 85 is ideal.  I use a heating pad or a reptile heater under the glass.  Take them outside if the weather is nice.  I use an upside-down plastic laundry basket to protect them from predators and sunburn.  It lets sun in and you can put it on the grass.  Give them a variety of foods, chopping them real good.  Try kale, mustard greens, okra, broccoli.  Do not feed lettuce or cat or dog food!  Use a ceramic bowl of water for soaks and drinks.

How Old is that Turtle in the Window?

Trying to determine the age of a turtle or tortoise that is wild or has been only in your care a short time is tough.  Food intake usually determines the rate of growth.  Wild and domesticated ones will have growth rings depending on quality and quantity of food available. When a male tortoise is old enough (maybe 8 years) it develops a depression in the plastron.  The female remains flat.  Males also sometimes have a longer tail and bigger gular.  Sometimes males develop large chin glands too.  The easiest way to tell the sexes is when they chase each other around the yard!

Rule of the day - keeping your turtle in an aquarium for life is like you being in the bathtub without a break for 20 years!  Give your turtle to someone with a yard if you cannot provide a proper home.

Turtlarity

A little turtle begins to climb a tree slowly.  After

long hours of effort, he reaches the top, jumps into

the air waving his front legs, until he

crashes heavily into the ground with a hard knock

on his shell. After recovering consciousness,

he starts to climb the tree again, jumps again,

and knocks the ground heavily again. The little turtle

persisted again and again while a couple of birds

sitting at the edge of a branch, watched

the turtle with pain. Suddenly the female bird

says to the male, "Hey dear, I think it's

time to tell our little turtle he is adopted".

Submitted by Pierce Evans, Florida

SEA TURTLE ACTION ALERT

The Texas Sea Turtle Slaughter has escalated to new heights. Record numbers of sea turtles washed up dead in March as shrimping season began. Five times as many were found littered along the coast as the same month last year - from 11 to 56 dead sea turtles. When the Coast Guard responded to reports of these killings, they boarded a shrimp boat and found it had both turtle excluder devices tied shut-and more than 1,000 pounds of fresh shrimp.  Many adult Kemp's ridleys were found dead. Some of these were documented to be adult females heading for the beach to nest. A new federal report clearly links these deaths with the shrimp season. As a result, there have been no confirmed nestings along Padre Island National Seashore this year. ONLY PUBLIC PRESSURE FROM AROUND THE COUNTRY WILL HELP US STOP THESE SEA TURTLES FROM DROWNING IN SHRIMP NETS.

Write letters to the officials listed below.

Gov. George W. Bush Jr.                                         Al Gore, Vice President

State Capitol, Room 2S.1                                        1600 Pennsylvania Ave.

Austin, TX 78701                                                      Washington DC 20230

Phone 512-463-2000                                               phone 202-456-1414

Hotline for Texas residents: 1-800-252-9600     fax 202-456-2883

Fax 512-463-1849                                                    email: vice.president@whitehouse.gov

To receive petitions and find out more about this campaign, contact Sea

Turtle Restoration Project, Earth Island Institute, 415-488-0370 or email

turtlesafe@earthisland.org or contact Carole Allen at HEART in Houston,

281-444-6204.

Stuff You Can Use

Water turtles often get nasty shell rot. If you have this problem, try what our vet suggests:

First clean the area thoroughly.  We use a dental pick (you know that thing that the dentist sticks in your cavity and then pokes it until you scream).  You can buy these in a dental set at the drug store.  The area must be thoroughly cleaned, and since the pitting is pretty deep the dental pick really helps to get in and scoop out any goop.  Following this, put the turtle in a Betadine solution.  This is made up of warm water and enough Betadine to make it light tea color.  Soak the turtle twice a day in this for a half-hour.  Dry the turtle thoroughly.  Put in a warm dry box or tank.  It is ok for the turtle to get this solution in its mouth and it’s ok for the turtle to be out of water, even for days.  Shell rot heals better when the turtle stays dry.  Sometimes shell rot takes a year or more to heal!  If the shell rot is serious and/or you have not seen a vet for this condition, make an appointment.  Sometimes it is necessary to have more aggressive therapy, including antibiotics.

TEAM Goes Silent

Long time turtle rescuer Roy Lewis of West Los Angeles had open heart surgery earlier this year.  While he has recuperated in a timely fashion, the TEAM newsletter he published for years has been discontinued.  If you’d like to subscribe to another newsletter written by the fabulous Felice Rood, head of the Sacramento Turtle & Tortoise Club and editor of the TEAM newsletter, call or write:  25 Starlit Circle, Sacramento, CA  95831; 916-421-1134; Felicerood@compuserve.com. 

Getting Hooked on a Turtle(or Vice Versa)

(From an ATR member) I captured a turtle with a fishing leader hanging out of its mouth.  I went down to the local bait shop and purchased a hook-removing tool for .89 +tax.  I guessed a #8 hook by the size of the leader line.  I figured the turtle seemed ok and might be ok for some time but eventually would die from not eating or infection.  So...... In case you don't know the hook remover is red and has a small bulb on one end and large on the other.  There is a notch in the bulb so you can slide the bulb into the mouth of a fish (or turtle in this case) along the line so when you feel the bulb hit the end of the hook you know your there.  Then pull up the slack.  When you feel the hook begin to get tightened up you push the bulb slightly deeper into the turtle.  I had to wear gloves in order to get a good grip and to protect me from scratches.  After I thought I felt the remover go slightly deeper (that isn't easy cause they have long necks so you kind of need to use some kind of reference point on the shell!!!) I gently pulled the remover out making sure I kept the hook snug on the bulb all the way out. That wasn't easy by my self but I thought it would be better in case it looked cruel (it did!)…The end result was hook removed not a drop of blood and a very active turtle.  Sincerely, Ward Willis  (those of us who are chicken, will end up at the vet instead, but in emergencies and if you feel comfortable. J)

How to separate two red-eared sliders when one has grabbed the other by the neck. 

Another member tip - this time from Matt and Barbara Jansky:

1. Begin by screaming "Bad turtle!" as loud as you possibly can, preferably with the windows open so your neighbors will think you are insane.

2. VERY, VERY carefully lift both turtles out of the water-- place one hand securely beneath the turtle being attacked, gripping the plastron firmly from the underside, and the other hand on top of the shell of the attacker.  In this way, you can lift both reptiles out of the water without changing their orientation to each other, or trying to pull them apart, which could result in injury or worse.

3.  Continue screaming "Bad turtle!" at the attacking turtle, at very close range.  Sometimes this will work, and the attacker will release his grip.

4.  If this fails, begin tapping the shell of the attacking turtle right behind his head, again while screaming "Bad turtle!" at the top of your lungs.  This was what finally brought Burke to his senses and made him release Buddy's neck and look up at me with a look on his face that seemed to say, "Gee, did I do something bad?  I don't remember what it was.

5.  Our vet Dr. Stein says to take these sorts of attacks very seriously, and keep the turtles separate after you have observed this behavior.  After the second time it happened, we took his advice!

Order Your Turtle Checks Today

It’s easy and fun to have your favorite turtle featured on your checks.  We get compliments like crazy when merchants and friends see our cute little turtle faces on our checks.  You can also put your grandkids or dogs or anything on the check but why would you when you can have a precious tortoise face smiling back at you.  (And we make a little money on every order too.)  It’s cheap and fast – call us for more info at 800-938-3553.

 JATR Wish List

ÿ          Human heating pads (any size)     ÿ          Cloth Diapers (new please)

ÿ          Grant writing support                     ÿ         Veterinary surgical towels (used OK)

ÿ          Aquatic turtle food                          ÿ          Postage stamps

ÿ          2" binders                                          ÿ          Heavy heavy duty pool pump

ÿ          Horse trailer                                     ÿ          HP III cartridges new or partially used

ÿ          Ladies garden gloves                      ÿ          Vet supplies, i.e., syringes, Baytril

ÿ          Post-it notes                                     ÿ          Old towels

ÿ          Black rubber office trash cans     ÿ          Copy paper (any color or white)

ÿ          White envelopes any size               ÿ          Cat carriers

ÿ          Duotang pocket folders                  ÿ          Pig blankets

ÿ          Garden hoses                                   ÿ          Ceramic heating bulbs

ÿ          Paper towels                                     ÿ          Antibacterial soap

ÿ          Money                                                            ÿ          Money

Hard To Believe Hibernation Is Close At Hand

We get asked how to hibernate turtles and tortoises all the time.  Here is our best advice.  We recommend bringing in all desert tortoises and putting them in a strong carton filled with ripped up newspaper.  Then put them in the closet, garage or a cool place away from rats and other predators.  You'll know when it is time because they will stop eating and spend less and less time in the sun.  Before you put them down, give them a long soak in warm water.  (Some won’t stand for it so let them go.)  Check them intermittently throughout the winter by touching their back foot.  If they withdraw it even slightly they should be OK - listen for any sounds of wheezing though.  Never hibernate a sick tortoise, one that has been sick during the year (it's ok to let them sleep with your supervision but keep checking them) or an injured tortoise.  Do not hibernate babies less than two-three years of age.  Do not hibernate sulcatas or leopards.  They need to stay warm all year although they might stop eating somewhat.  As for water turtles, if you raised them from a pup or had them inside and then moved them outside during the summer it will be ok to hibernate them all winter outside.  They go under water and stay - kind of scary for the first time turtle person, but do not worry - they are ok.  Box turtles and other tortoises that stay out can hibernate outside but remember if they are burrowed in and it rains a lot they can drown, so be aware of where your tortoises end up.  We hear a lot of sad stories.

Permits Must Be Had By All

If you have a California Desert Tortoise, no matter how long you have had it, you must have a permit.  It is the only way that you can prove your tortoise is yours if it wanders away.  And the state would like to know how many there are. Even if you have photos, if someone finds your tortoise first and permits it, you cannot have it back.  It is not a way for the state to check up on you and see how many tortoises you have or take them away. For permits (they are free), contact G. Wilfong, 20038 Butterfield Dr., Castro Valley, CA  94546.

Those Pesky Asian Markets Still At It

Hard to believe after all these many months of testifying, the Fish & Game people still refuse to acknowledge the cruelty that continues at the Asian markets throughout the state.  We've had two map turtles for sale at the Oakland Calif. markets.  One was purchased and it died shortly thereafter - we do not know what happened to the other (lest we guess we will become ill).  Marshall and I were at the Long Beach hearing a few weeks ago and this time they kept it off the agenda, so we had to get our five minutes each in during public comment.  The idea that we are racists for loving turtles (our life's work) is so absurd it is laughable.  These people are clearly protecting their precious political turf.  At this point all you can do is keep sending letters to the politicians…Gov. Gray Davis for one.  The State Capitol, Sacramento CA  95814; and Director, California Fish & Game, 1416 Ninth St., Sacramento CA  95814

Chewy Sniffs His Pal

We get a lot of questions about cats and turtles.  So far we

have heard nothing bad about cats attacking turtles.  Here's our

cat "Chewy from La Puente," a 16 year old gang member cat

who lives with all our turtles.  Turtles move too slow for most cats.

Dogs on the other hand are a problem.  No matter how good,

how old, how sweet, how tame, etc. your dog is it can always

hurt a turtle.  Keep them apart - always and forever. 

Just heard from a friend who tortoise lived peaceably with her

dog for seven years.  She came home to a very bad sight.

The dog had attacked the tortoise biting its shell and leg. 

Trust us - don't put them together.

Successful Texas Adoptions

Some of you wonder how we accomplish adoptions around the country.  Well we get calls from a lot of people finding turtles or having to give them up.  Then we look throughout adoption forms which we have separated by state and contact the adopter.  Placements have been very successful.  For example, our member Laurel Betz in Texas had five Texas tortoises that needed homes due to a family illness.  Loppie, Dot, Shelly, Baby and Mr. Turtle all found super homes in Texas.  One person picked them up and drove five hours distributing them to the proper turtle parents.  ATR once had about 100 box turtles in Iowa available for adoption but the only person from IOWA who I had an adoption form from had moved!!!  So they were placed through other agencies.

Donations for the Hospital Fund Still Needed

Our biggest expense is veterinary care for the

turtles.  This includes not just visits, but medi-

cation, supplies, over the counter ointments,

etc.  Since we are a nonprofit, donations to the

hospital fund are in part tax deductible.  Ask your

tax man how much and then send a huge check

to ATR.  We are so grateful for any help.  An envelope

is enclosed.  Thank you.  Susan and Marshall

Wood Turtle Update

Wood turtles are pretty scarce these days: they are protected in most states.  Cute as a bug’s ear, the wood turtle has bright big shiny eyes, is very alert and is one of the most intelligent of all turtles.  We got a hatchling from one of our members, and boy is he adorable.  At about five inches now, he lives on the boggy side of the fence.  But in January when we had a warm spell (Malibu was the warmest spot in the nation at 88 degrees), I saw a flash run into the pond on the wet side of the rescue when I opened the gate.  I swore it was the wood turtle but it all happened so fast that I wasn’t 100 percent sure.  And since the sliders were hibernating, I didn’t want to drain the pond.  Two days later, I saw what looked like the brilliant shell of the wood coming to the surface.  I reached in and snatched him out really fast.  It was the wood turtle!  He must be punished because woods cannot swim well at all, and he could have drowned.  Now he hangs around the gate begging to go back into the pond.  So I made him a pretend pond on the boggy side and he flops around in there when he feels like it.  ometimes it gets down to 45 degrees.  He must be freezing his flippers off.