Many Questions Arise about a Giant Tortoise Found in Cheyenne

Cheyenne Wyoming Tribune-Eagle ^ | 03/02/05 | Dynes, Michelle

[PBRSTREETGANG]

Terri said she was told it was likely a desert tortoise, which usually is found in the Mojave and Colorado/Sonoran deserts of California, southern Nevada, Arizona, southwestern Utah and Mexico.

Some fool driving north to ski country put it in the back of his pick-up and dropped it off.

Not a lot of mystery to this story.

[ClearCase_guy]

Charles Fort ... paging Charles Fort. Please pick up the white courtesy phone.

[Shannon]

It was good of her to bring it home. Leaving it there could have meant trouble for the misplaced turtle.

[Lijahsbubbe]

A turtle that big and nobody came to pick it up? The least that the Game people could have done is call the zoo.

[freebilly]

She said someone from Game and Fish is coming to Cheyenne on Wednesday to examine her find and tell her what to do next

Turtle Soup?

[Dust in the Wind]

The rain does bring strange things, eh?

[natewill]

If I see an animal out of its habitat, anda potentially endangered or rare one at that, I'm never touching it. Or thinking about touching it. Or even looking at it. Especially in a western state such as Utah.

Why? Three words: Environmental Protection Agency

[Khurkris]

Didja hear about the slug that was raped by two tortoises?

When the police asked the slug for details,
It responded..."I don't remember much, it all happened so fast!"

[MineralMan]

Actually, giant tortoises are amazing escape artists. It was probably someone's pet and dug out and walked off. I had one for many years, and it could dig out of the yard, almost under anything. One time, the darned thing dug out under the footing of a concrete block wall. It had to dig down 12" to get under the wall.

I always got it back, though, since I engraved my name, address, and phone number on it's shell. One time, it was gone for over three months before I got a call. The thing was over 20 miles from my house.

I finally found a small zoo that would take it, and it's still there, some 30 years later. How big? It was just a baby, with a shell just 18" across.

[PBRSTREETGANG]

Thanks.

I'll file that under the "something new" that I learned today.

[TomGuy]

"I don't know if someone dropped him off or if he got lost," she said.

He/it probably just made a wrong turn off the Interstate in Denver on his stroll to Cleveland.

[kanawa]

[pabianice]

Probably a Sulcata. Many morons abandon them when they grow too large.

American Tortoise Rescue

[Squawk 8888]

Actually, giant tortoises are amazing escape artists. It was probably someone's pet and dug out and walked off. I had one for many years, and it could dig out of the yard, almost under anything.

I used to have a rabbit like that. I was constantly replacing the neighbour's flowers.

[MarineBrat]

My friend has a pet turtle in his backyard pond. One day he heard a knocking sound at the front door. When he answered the door it was the turtle!

I'm looking for a punch line but there isn't one. The things can really get around!

[EggsAckley]

When I was a kid, we also found a tortoise out in the deserty area of central Calif. It wasn't as big as the one in this thread, but it WAS the biggest turtle I'd ever seen. We kept it in the back yard for about a year, before it dug under the fence and disappeared. It moved VERY slowly, but when it got to the swimming pool and jumped in, it swam with the greatest of ease. Difficult to catch and get out of the pool. I'd forgotten all about that till this thread. Heheheh.

[curmudgeonII]

Turtle Soup?

If you're going to make turtle soup, you need to serve it with a fair sized dollop of sherry.

[freebilly]

Fill the shell with Margaritas....

[Glacier Honey]

Now come on - the turtle is there because of global warming. It would never have appeared in Cheyenne if Pres Bush was not elected. It is clearing giving us a dire warning of doom. I know there has to be a scientist out there somewhere who can use this turtle as global warming proof, publish a article, appear on the morning news show and then do the speaking circuit and make lots of money.

Maybe Ward Churchhill is available.