Bernard
Judy once told me that she could imagine being perfectly happy as a zoo keeper. Well, I guess she’s decided that it’s worth pursuing as a backup career. Step by step, Judy is transforming our yard into her very own reptilian petting zoo.
This is her latest addition, a Hermann’s Tortoise that she has named Bernard. Hermann’s Tortoises are European, as opposed to our three-toed box turtles (Chester, Molly, Abigail, and Chestnut) and ornate box turtle (Daisy), who are all North American.
December 1st, 2006 at 10:22 pm
My first thought was doesn’t the state frown on foreign species like that, but who cares, it is so cute. I bet if the yard is properly enclosed and the right plants are planted for them to eat they could be a no maintenance pet with a very long and happy life roaming wild and free in your garden.
Perhaps you could build them a tortoise meditation maze with your Stack of Disorganized Useless Rocks.
And now I know the right way to spell Tortoise.
December 1st, 2006 at 11:33 pm
Apparently box turtles and the like are on the Department of Ag’s list of “restricted” species. I spoke to someone in the department a few years ago and their reasoning was that box turtles and tortoises who escape captivity are not likely (we hope) to upset the ecosystem. Red eared sliders and other aquatics, on the other hand, are a menace to stream systems. They can get pretty darn big too!
And you’re right — Bernard is a cutie! He has a lot of personality too. When I clean out his enclosure he follows my feet around, sits on my slippers and occasionally will carefully, and quite thoroughly, smell my toes.