OkcPets Magazine March 2021

It’s always nice to have something to look forward to, and I’m tickled to inform you of an annual event on May 23 that is a cause célèbre you may have missed until now. Never fear; this omission can be rectified as springtime 2021 unfolds, flowers bloom, the rivers run, and our earth warms back to life. I’m talking about National Turtle Day. Around this date, turtles have begun to emerge from hibernation although it’s not called “hibernation” as they don’t survive winter like grizzlies; the correct term is “brumation,” useful to remember for those who get picky—or write articles for OKC Pets. I know little about turtles, but my brain is such that the most irrele- vant questions stick there and cycle around until I can bear it no longer and must research. I began to wonder more about what turtles and tortoises do to contend with seasonal problems when I had one move in about eight years ago. I was thrilled when “Turtle” (I know, clever, right?) appeared the spring after she’d been spotted constantly roaming the previous summer. As the backyard is a certified wildlife habitat, it was comforting to know she’d found plenty of food to survive. Being somewhat of a foodie myself, I began to put turtle goodies out for her and found she had a standing hour to trundle across the patio for a snack. After a few summer months, she even began to check the windows to summon her waitress (me). It happened the next spring. And the next. I had no idea turtles would do that. Then my vet called; two turtles had shells badly damaged from car strikes, split between the carapace (top shell) and plastron (bottom shell). With some veterinarian skill, super glue and antibiotics, there was hope. I received a word of warning: those breaks would remain weak, probably for most of their lives. I felt compelled to protect them until their shells repaired and wor- ried about them thereafter. One problem with box turtles is they insist on living within a mile of where they’re born. They use earth’s magnetic fields to navigate a return to their original nest from wherever they are— since “home is where the hatch is” for these guys. Both animals had been dropped off by good Samaritans but from where? Releasing them at the river, or in a field, would set these kids up for the same traffic threat that got them to me in the first place. Luckily, they were properly released into a wildlife habitat with food, water and proper shelter, with no pesticides, no dogs and no interference in their natural functions. In short, they joined Turtle in the backyard to wander as they please. The really cool part is these two have brumated and emerged every spring for some years. I was able to sex them by looking at their turtle behinds (males have longer, thicker, more prominent tails than females, with the cloaca set farther from the shell), then assessing their plastrons as, for males, it curves into their bodies, so they don’t slip off as easily when mating. Females may have a slightly extruding “belly” curve since their bodies need room for growing eggs. Two females, one male. The new female had a boot-shaped scar on the front of her shell, so she’s “Boots.” Boots quickly caught on to morning buffets, appearing at 10 a.m. (late sleeper) and disappearing when full. Box turtles are omni- vores; their eyesight is about like ours, and they are often attracted to red food: tomatoes, watermelon, cherries (remove the pits, please). Turtle beaks are strong, and if one dangles a finger in front of an alligator turtle, it could result in immediate amputation. I started COME OUT OF YOUR SHELL AND PARTY LIKE A TURTLE! FUN FACTS 12 OKC Pets • March/April 2021