Turtle Digging Question

[K9Luvn]

I'm new to Florida.... and there is a big turtle in my backyard digging a hole uhh not sure what to do. Of coarse it would be in my dogs favorite potty spot.

 

[ROOT]

That's a Florida slider. What part of town are you in? He looks just like the one in my pond who is AWOL at the moment
He sometimes disappears for weeks at a time but I worry about him when he is gone.
this is an old picture of him.

 

[K9Luvn]

Well Root... mines a she... and she was as big a serving platter!! She laid eggs in the middle of the yard, covered them up and walked away. Then all these huge crow birds came into the yard and were trying to dig up the eggs!! I ran out there to shoo them off and those birds were not afraid of me at all... Heck they are so tall, they about come up to my knees! I'm beginning to think everything grows big in Florida! My maternal instincts kicked in and I finally fought them all off with a broom! Now I have a fortress built around it!! They sure had me running around out there like a crazy person! I can only imagine what the neighbors must of thought. Any idea how long until I become a Turtle Mama?? (I'm over in the B section)

 

[Fastcar]

Sea turtles can be 2-3 months.

 

[ROOT]

Well Root... mines a she... and she was as big a serving platter!! She laid eggs in the middle of the yard, covered them up and walked away. Then all these huge crow birds came into the yard and were trying to dig up the eggs!! I ran out there to shoo them off and those birds were not afraid of me at all... Heck they are so tall, they about come up to my knees! I'm beginning to think everything grows big in Florida! My maternal instincts kicked in and I finally fought them all off with a broom! Now I have a fortress built around it!! They sure had me running around out there like a crazy person! I can only imagine what the neighbors must of thought. Any idea how long until I become a Turtle Mama?? (I'm over in the B section)

That's so awesome I don't know how long it will be but I am excited to hear about it. Have you got water nearby ?
I am thrilled to hear you protected the babes from those nasty birds. The eggs incubate for 2–3 months and the hatchlings will usually stay with the nest through winter. Hatchlings are almost entirely carnivorous, feeding on insects, spiders, crustaceans, tadpoles, fish, and carrion. As they age, adults eat less and less meat, and up to 95% of their nutritional intake eventually comes from plants. If it were me I'd build a pond so they would hang around.

 

[ROOT]

This Boy is about dinner plate size now, that picture is 3-4 years old but I do think your girl is a little bigger.

 

[sundealer]

12/20/2006 74 Plainview Dr. PC

 

[slick]

I love turtle soup. Bet this dont go over to well.

 

[K9Luvn]

That's so awesome I don't know how long it will be but I am excited to hear about it. Have you got water nearby ?
I am thrilled to hear you protected the babes from those nasty birds. The eggs incubate for 2–3 months and the hatchlings will usually stay with the nest through winter. Hatchlings are almost entirely carnivorous, feeding on insects, spiders, crustaceans, tadpoles, fish, and carrion. As they age, adults eat less and less meat, and up to 95% of their nutritional intake eventually comes from plants. If it were me I'd build a pond so they would hang around.

OMG you mean I am going to have to go in search of tadpoles and fish nearby for them! We have a small ditch one house over.. not sure if it has water in it right now. So after they hatch you mean they will toddle around near the nest in search of food this winter? I too think it is cool... however I don't think my husband is going to let me put a pond in. I have an idea How about if after they hatch I bring them over to you

 

[Jeannie]

Root are the turtles I dropped off still in residence? I think about coming over to see if they swim to the top and remember me.

 

[slick]

Dinner cant swim.

 

[R2D2]

OMG you mean I am going to have to go in search of tadpoles and fish nearby for them! We have a small ditch one house over.. not sure if it has water in it right now. So after they hatch you mean they will toddle around near the nest in search of food this winter? I too think it is cool... however I don't think my husband is going to let me put a pond in. I have an idea How about if after they hatch I bring them over to you

I love turtles, we have a few in the lake behind our house but have plenty of room for more.

Let me know and I'll be glad to pick them up and show them our 5 acre lake here in the Tidelands (and keep them safe from Slick).

 

[ROOT]

OMG you mean I am going to have to go in search of tadpoles and fish nearby for them! We have a small ditch one house over.. not sure if it has water in it right now. So after they hatch you mean they will toddle around near the nest in search of food this winter? I too think it is cool... however I don't think my husband is going to let me put a pond in. I have an idea How about if after they hatch I bring them over to you

I keep the pond stocked with feeder goldfish and the muck bottom breeds worms but I also give them koisticks . as per the experience below If I take any new little ones and I would love to give them a home I am going to have to build some sort of protection from cats coons and birds. They are natives and have instincts to survive but like all young only a few make it to maturity. I could help you with a small pond but the best thing would be to let them find their way back to the moms hunting grounds. However if you feel they have no good chance I am connected to a preserve that has waterways that don't dry up. I figure that's were this guy goes when he disappears shoot he may have went tom catting about and be the daddy of those the creek does connect under 95 and I have no Idea how far they range. He has been here for about 7 years or so and one time he was gone for 3 or 4 months then was waiting on napmaster by the car door one morning looking for a bite to eat. I wouldn't try to pen him in I just keep a welcoming habitat . But if I did become ward of a litter I would find some way to give them a better chance.

Root are the turtles I dropped off still in residence? I think about coming over to see if they swim to the top and remember me.

Well I didn't want to break your heart, so I hadn't volunteered the news, but I havn't seen hide nor hair of them since you came and left them. I don't know what happened to them. But I suspect the raccoons that the snowbird neighbor feeds and when he isn't here they dig in my trash. Maybe they were too small? It is not unusual for them to stay out of sight and be shy and since it's a big pond system I just put some food out every day but didn't ever see them.

I took some to cowboys pond this spring and had to put a spiderweb of fishing line over the pond to dissuade a red eagle from drooling over them and the koi, so far the koi have been fine but the turtles stay hidden.

 

[ROOT]

I love turtles, we have a few in the lake behind our house but have plenty of room for more.

Let me know and I'll be glad to pick them up and show them our 5 acre lake here in the Tidelands (and keep them safe from Slick).

The sliders are a lot more sociable than the soft shell and those nasty snappers but Its hard to say how or if a group would accept strangers in. but at least they wouldn't be slick soup.

 

[K9Luvn]

I love turtles, we have a few in the lake behind our house but have plenty of room for more.

Let me know and I'll be glad to pick them up and show them our 5 acre lake here in the Tidelands (and keep them safe from Slick).

Are you serious?? I mean you don't just want them for turtle soup do you If you are I will surely take you up on that offer

 

[K9Luvn]

I keep the pond stocked with feeder goldfish and the muck bottom breeds worms but I also give them koisticks . as per the experience below If I take any new little ones and I would love to give them a home I am going to have to build some sort of protection from cats coons and birds. They are natives and have instincts to survive but like all young only a few make it to maturity. I could help you with a small pond but the best thing would be to let them find their way back to the moms hunting grounds. However if you feel they have no good chance I am connected to a preserve that has waterways that don't dry up. I figure that's were this guy goes when he disappears shoot he may have went tom catting about and be the daddy of those the creek does connect under 95 and I have no Idea how far they range. He has been here for about 7 years or so and one time he was gone for 3 or 4 months then was waiting on napmaster by the car door one morning looking for a bite to eat. I wouldn't try to pen him in I just keep a welcoming habitat . But if I did become ward of a litter I would find some way to give them a better chance.

Hey what ever would work and whatever would be best for them. I do want to give them a chance for survival. My yard where the nest is located is open. No protection from predator birds.... we also get a lot of squirrels and doves. Until Mama Turtle came I haven't seen much else... other then lizards and anoles. The lot behind me is overgrown and uncleared as is another lot on one side of me. Those lots are too thick to see what is in them. There is a house next to me that has one of those little water run off drainage ditches and I don't think there is water in it right now and not sure when and how much it does get since I have not lived her long enough.
Any help I can get to help these little ones get a chance at life is what is important. All suggestions and offers of help are seriously appreciated

 

[R2D2]

Are you serious?? I mean you don't just want them for turtle soup do you :y_Piddleed_2: If you are I will surely take you up on that offer

Very serious, just let me know where and when and I'll pick them up and deposit them in a safe part of the lake (lots of reeds to stay hidden from view) plenty of small fish, tadpoles and vegetation to eat.

We keep the lake aerated with 3 fountains and 3 underwater aeration systems. No irrigation pump pull any water from the lake (so they will not be sucked into them) see picture below showing the three fountains.

I enlarged this from the country appraiser's site (at least he is good for something) copy write notice on picture.

 

[WizardMaster]

Well Root... mines a she... and she was as big a serving platter!! She laid eggs in the middle of the yard, covered them up and walked away. Then all these huge crow birds came into the yard and were trying to dig up the eggs!! I ran out there to shoo them off and those birds were not afraid of me at all... Heck they are so tall, they about come up to my knees! I'm beginning to think everything grows big in Florida! My maternal instincts kicked in and I finally fought them all off with a broom! Now I have a fortress built around it!! They sure had me running around out there like a crazy person! I can only imagine what the neighbors must of thought. Any idea how long until I become a Turtle Mama?? (I'm over in the B section)

Can we see video of this event?

 

[K9Luvn]

Can we see video of this event?

Not sure if anyone got one Susan... And I left one part out.... I was actually still in my pajamas when this happened. So lets just say I don't think any of my new neighbors are in any hurry to meet me now