Look what I just found on my backyard!!!

[M&M's Mommy]

If she is being kept inside, goes from cool outdoors, to warm indoors, back to cool outdoors, that alone could cause her to sicken and die. What region do you live in M&M's Mommy? It would be very easy to find out if ornate box turtles are native to your region.

Right now we put the turtle in a huge plastic box in the patio area, with some dirt, dried grasses and a lectuce leave dipped in water for it. It has not been touched nor moved since it was found & placed in there yesterday. I am not sure how long the turtle had been in my backyard before I found it yesterday morning.

I live in Garden Grove, Orange County, California. How do I find out if it's native to my area, and what difference does that make??

[Sophist]

I live in Garden Grove, Orange County, California. How do I find out if it's native to my area, and what difference does that make??

It isn't, and in general, it is the difference between life and death for released herps.

Here is a list of some Cali reptile rescues:

http://www.anapsid.org/societies/calif.html


This is probably your best bet right here, tho. If they can't take care of you, they'd probably at least be the best resource to hook you up with someone who could:

http://www.reptilerescueca.org/

Thank you so much for being willing to help her. A lot of people wouldn't. I know it isn't the same as finding a cute fluffy animal needing help, but reptiles are very special to me, and they can have a pretty rough time of getting the help they need. Let me know if I can help you out at all, and please let me know if they help you.

As far as feeding, it probably won't be a big issue... you can offer her some of the appropriate diet mentioned, but like I said before, she should be hibernating right now, so she shouldn't have too much of a feeding response. Ooh... thank you again for trying! I was so worried about her today. Please, please, please let me know any way I can help!

[M&M's Mommy]

It isn't, and in general, it is the difference between life and death for released herps.

Here is a list of some Cali reptile rescues:

http://www.anapsid.org/societies/calif.html

This is probably your best bet right here, tho. If they can't take care of you, they'd probably at least be the best resource to hook you up with someone who could:

http://www.reptilerescueca.org/

I check on the first link you gave, and found the Orange County Turtle & Tortoise Club, but they do not list the phone number, so I emailed them. This one is the closest one. All other are anywhere from 1 1/2 - 8 hours away.

I'll keep you posted. Right now the turtle is released to my backyard, but he doesn't seem to move much. This morning I found him about 3 feet from where I left him last nite!