Young visitor
I've seen plenty of young rabbits this year, and had some experience with baby deer too. I've seen baby mice, watched tiny toads emerge from the pond, heard lots of baby birds -- the house wrens just raised another brood in the wren house under the deck -- but one thing I don't get too see too often is young turtles.
I did the other day though!
This box turtle is not a newborn, and I suspect is at least two years old so maybe it's more of a teenager?
It's about half or 2/3 the size of an adult -- maybe this wide shot will give you a better sense of scale?
(Its shell is about the size of my palm, but that doesn't really help either, does it?)
Since the eyes appear to be brown and females usually have brown eyes, this is a young female I think.
I don't think it's one from the nest that I found -- too big for that I think -- so "my" babies are still out there somewhere.
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| Cute turtle tail! |
I'm happy to see any turtles in my garden, but young ones are more exciting somehow.
It means that I'm going to have to pay extra close attention while mowing the lawn though...
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Pretty turtle! Love her shell pattern.
Adorable photos!
I think if you have a soft ground sandy area where they can put their turtle egg nest, then you will have repeat visitors. My parents put quarter inch wire mesh screen over a frame to put over the nests, heavy rock on top allowing air flow, to protect the eggs. Its a real treat to see the babies emerge.
How lovely! Maybe he did come from your garden, in a nest that you're were unaware of :)
What a sweet baby! Like so many cool animals, we don't have turtles in the city, just raccoons, possums, squirrels, rats, mice.. Love your wildlife updates!
It must be so cool to see a turtle in your garden! The only way they would ever happen in my garden if somebody's pet escaped.
I can't even begin to imagine what it would be like to have a turtle just show up in my garden. How cool!
How extremely cool to have a turtle living in your garden. And these are lovely photos - love the tail! :)
Seeing a turtle always makes my day! When the lawn is long (so almost always) I often see the trail left by a turtle in the grass. I often see one back by the compost pile -- I always put the fruit scraps down low instead of on top!