Dear Members and Friends:

Our Summer meeting will be held on Saturday, July 15th at 1:30 until 4 at the Belle Cooledge Library (South Land Park Dr. & Fruitridge Rd) We'll be talking about the upcoming TURTLERAMA on August 19th. There was a complaint last year. Someone said there were too many dead turtles on display. I guess she was referring to the Horror Board. Since there was only one complaint, we won't change a thing. How else can turtle keepers protect their pets from the ravages of raccoons, possums, rats, dogs, lawn mowers, plastic bags, rocks small enough to swallow and paint on the shell? How would they know that swimming pools are dangerous or what a child can do to a tortoise and in some cases, even a veterinarian can inflict great harm? Come to think of it, perhaps we should ADD to the displays!!

We'll also discuss what is going on in your yard in July. I do hope all is well and the winter did not take its toll on your turtles and tortoises. This is the very best time of the year because it is warm and dry, no rain or cold is expected for several months and the turtles and tortoises can live day to day without our interference. By the time the Turtlerama comes around, the sun is lower in the sky and things have already changed. The shadows are much longer, the days may be hot, but the nights are longer and cooler. So cherish May, June and July!

Our 25th Anniversary meeting was crowded and wonderful. I brought out Newsletter #1 and Newsletter #100 and showed how not much had changed over the years. Not even the Turtlerama flyer! I do think the club maintains its popularity for that reason. Nobody really likes change. We like familiarity. There will never be a slick glossy expensive newsletter with vague information in it. You can find information on all species on the Internet. Our newsletter will always be about our own turtles and tortoises and how we manage them. As Father Dimitri pointed out at the meeting, we are a 'club' and not a 'society'. It's about OUR turtles in our homes and back yards. We also do all we can to protect the wild turtles and certainly stay on top of the continuing nightmare of turtles being sold for soup.

SEE YOU AT THE MEETING -
HOPE WE DON'T HAVE TO BE OUTSIDE!!!!

At the time of our meeting on April 22, the weather had started to warm up after an extended wet and cold winter. I opened the door to the greenhouse and watched with mixed emotions as Tarzan Jr., Tilly, Fernando and Blondie, all leopard tortoises, eagerly climbed out without looking back. They were ready for summer fun! Chester, the Elongata, quickly followed as well as several other tortoises who had been in the Greenhouse for various reasons. It didn't take long before ACT 1 began. The tortoises have been living peacefully in the greenhouse since last October. There was no fighting even tho they were very close to one another on their heat mat.

Here's what began to happen. Blondie, the large female with a mind of her own, goes into her favorite doghouse, ignoring everyone. Next is Tarzan Jr., her mate who is not quite as large. Enter Tilly who is a male leopard tortoise. He is on the small side. He's been here at least 15 years and it took 3 years before he would ever peek out at the world. He's a lot different now. He feels compelled to find Tarzan Jr and torment him by getting behind him, hooking his gular under Jr's rear end and shoving him across the yard. Tarzan allows himself to be bullied even though he is much larger than Tilly. He will never push back. Very often, Chester will be watching and waiting and when he sees the activity begin, he will come running out (yes, running) and come up behind Tilly and start pushing from behind - so now there are three of them involved as Blondie grazes contentedly nearby while the boys make fools of themselves.

ACT 2 - Tilly is placed into the Greenhouse to cool his heels. Peace is restored. But not for long. Enter Beamer. Beamer is a Russian tortoise who was turned over to The Bunker because of his naughty behavior. He was not very kind to the previous owner's female Russian. He does not get along with any of the Bunker residents. He spends the day running across the yard WITH HIS MOUTH WIDE OPEN, chasing anything that moves and is very eager to bite and ram them repeatedly. Due to this behavior, he takes turns in the Greenhouse with Tilly. Solitary Confinement is the only answer for their own health as well as the others. (And my sanity)

Same old story: WAY too many sliders have come in for adoption. Marilyn Flynn picks up most of the homeless from the Bradshaw SPCA while mine come in from everyone who can find me and also the Front Street shelter. Marilyn and I are asking for help. I have personally saturated the ponds of many people and need new homes with outdoor ponds where the sliders can live their lives in peace. So, if you have room for one or two more, some are large, we would really appreciate it. At this time, I have about 50 sliders and I only have room for 10. HELP!

Please remember to look to the NORTHEAST if any of your turtles or tortoises escape. This is the way they normally will run. I think morning is the best time to look because that's when they would be on the move. Often, the pet has not left the yard but is hiding very well somewhere, even up on its side in a small crevice. They are masters at hiding themselves. I've had a Reeves running crazily around the yard, escaping from her own enclosure over and over again. Today I put her into a small hard plastic pool with some red eared sliders that are up for adoption and now she is contentedly sunning herself on one of their basking rocks. I can't figure this out at all. Each and every one is unique and wonderful. Don't you agree?