Nancy and I drove the turtle to Claremont (about a half hour away). The man that I talked to last night at the turtle rescue place told me to put it in a box with newspapers on the bottom and on the top of the turtle, and then put some scrunched up ones on top of that. That seemed to calm it down. Before that it was really bouncing off the walls. And most of the walls in the enclosed patio where I put it were glass.
At one point it even turned itself upside down which I've heard can be fatal since they can't right themselves. Luckily I was there to save it.
Before I found the turtle society (thanks to Kathy) I started calling everyone near where I found the turtle (thanks to Fallbrook's reverse directory). I had some interesting conversations. I thought it might have been a pet and someone would be looking for it. One of the ladies I talked to said she found a turtle while walking on the golf course, which is right near here. She took it to the office and they told her that a lot of turtles live in the pond and come out once a year to lay eggs. She took it to the pond. The pond in the golf course is about 3 blocks away from where I found it. I suppose it could have walked that far, given time. It also had to cross a busy road.
I asked the turtle rescuer if I should take it back to the pond and he said it might try to cross the road again and was also in danger from coyotes. I thought it's shell would protect it but I guess not.
So here I am at the turtle rescuers house. He told me they might not be home and to put it in the plastic container on his porch. He said he wouldn't be gone long. I was sad to just leave it there. I think he'll take good care of it and even maybe find it a great new home.
This is his doorbell. I think he's pretty dedicated to turtles.
We then went out for a great breakfast. All's well that ends well.
We saw this beautifully/horribly painted van on the way home.
By the way the name of the turtle society is San Diego Turtle & Tortoise Society
I, also just read a little more about turtles and it said to never return them to the wild so I feel better about what I did.
By the way the name of the turtle society is San Diego Turtle & Tortoise Society
I, also just read a little more about turtles and it said to never return them to the wild so I feel better about what I did.