Like sands through the hourglass...so are the days of our turtles. Well, maybe that's a little dramatic, but we have had a lot of turtle business lately! It started about a week ago, when we released Tuck, our yellow-bellied slider (see post from April 6) into the pond behind the nature center. He was big enough to fend for himself, and was also bullying Buck, our peninsula cooter. He was pretty excited to live in the big pond, but you can see him here 
looking back at us - reconsidering his bad behavior! But, then he swam away to explore.
Then, on Friday, an A.I.P. employee brought in three young turtles. Someone thought they'd be cute pets, but didn't realize the size they'd grow to. This is an important consideration when you are looking for a pet! Many young reptiles are bought and then tossed out when their owners don't have enough space for them. It's very hard on the animal
itself, and also on the environment. Non-native animals compete with natives for habitat and resources. They may also upset the whole balance of an ecosystem. These three were saved from a yard sale!
We released them into the pond behind the nature center as well. As we were releasing them, maintenance workers brought in a tiny baby Florida red-bellied turtle, named Rex after his rescuer. It was found in the breezeway by the game room, which is by the pool. It was obviously lost....a pool full of chlorinated water is no place for him, and neither is the ocean!
Since he's so tiny we decided to keep him with Buck. No worrying about him fending for himself against the bigger Buck - he gave him a nip to put him in place!
looking back at us - reconsidering his bad behavior! But, then he swam away to explore. Then, on Friday, an A.I.P. employee brought in three young turtles. Someone thought they'd be cute pets, but didn't realize the size they'd grow to. This is an important consideration when you are looking for a pet! Many young reptiles are bought and then tossed out when their owners don't have enough space for them. It's very hard on the animal
itself, and also on the environment. Non-native animals compete with natives for habitat and resources. They may also upset the whole balance of an ecosystem. These three were saved from a yard sale!We released them into the pond behind the nature center as well. As we were releasing them, maintenance workers brought in a tiny baby Florida red-bellied turtle, named Rex after his rescuer. It was found in the breezeway by the game room, which is by the pool. It was obviously lost....a pool full of chlorinated water is no place for him, and neither is the ocean!
Since he's so tiny we decided to keep him with Buck. No worrying about him fending for himself against the bigger Buck - he gave him a nip to put him in place!
Is Rex a Brady or a DiMera?
ReplyDeleteDefinately a Brady..he's way too cute to be evil!
ReplyDelete