Quiet little fellows, this one may have gotten stepped on as I worked - hope not. Once, not aware it was there, I glanced down while pruning shrubs and there he was in the leaves and litter right beside my foot. I appologized to him in case I had, and assured him I didn't mean to and that I hoped he was alright. Then I moved him a distance away from the area of action.
Another time, he was unearthed from his wintertime lair beneath a root by an energetic helper. He brought it to show me, and said it's probably dead. I took it in my hand, felt the weight, and knew there was life. After we examined it, I asked him to put it back where he found it.
I searched the Internet for information about box turtles in their wintertime state. I printed out the information and shared it with the helper. We learned that in their wintertime stupor the turtles are helpless against predators and freezing. Next thing I knew, my helper was back down there giving the little fellow more cover, fearing he hadn't tucked him back in far enough. I suggested he mark the location so we could check on him in the spring. I felt certain he was alive and only waiting for spring. Come spring we checked for him in his winter abode --- it was empty.
Turtle No. 3:
Another time we found a very young snapping turtle in the tiny fish pool. The pool is about the size and shape of a bathtub and is home to four goldfish.
Now, goldfish and snapping turtles are not a good mix. I scooped him out, and thinking he would go downhill to the stream at the bottom; I took him to the adjoining farm and placed him facing downhill.
A day or two later, Local Daughter was visiting us and as she gazed out the window, she suddenly said: "I just saw a turtle go into the little pool! It just walked to the edge then plopped in!" I went out and checked and guess who! An exhausted little fellow was floating with his head on a lily leaf as if it were a pillow. Did I ever feel ashamed! But, I still didn't want him in with the goldfish.
Before he left, one of the helpers put it in a bucket and left it in a nearby pond on his way home. I'm sure turtles are much happier in a big pond with more food and room to grow. I'll always wonder how that little tyke came to be in our little pool. Was there an egg I hadn't noticed? Was it in the pool buried in the waterlily's pan and the baby hatched? Is that how it works with snapping turtles? I have no idea, but I do know that a few weeks before we had a formitable visitor.
"Honey! Come see who's here!!!" (I knew that would bring Husband/Best Friend/Chief Photographer in a hurry - mean trick on my part - had his hopes up of people arriving.)
It worked, then I pointed to a mean looking critter crossing our driveway going toward the neighbor's yard. I had been afraid it would move on before it was seen - and it was worth seeing.
Husband/Best Friend/Chief Photographer hurried back indoors to get his camera. By the time he returned, the "visitor" had turned around and came back to our side, then stopped in a very small flower bed at the base of our entry lamp post. It looked tired and had a deformed foot so going was probably not so easy -- there it spent the night. By the time this sleepy-head was out and about next morning, the visitor was long gone - nowhere to be seen. But here is proof positive that it did happen.
Turtle No. 2:
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