As you know our garden is a certified wildlife habitat. We enjoy watching all of the wildlife that visits or calls our garden home. However yesterday we had a visitor and how he got into our yard will forever remain a mystery!!
While doing my daily "dog waste pick-up" I was walking along in the grass and saw this little "guy". Now, the fact that I even saw him is somewhat of a miracle because the yard is so big and he was only about the size of a half-dollar. I had the feeling I was meant to find him. I called hubby over and we put him in the garden for safekeeping. I went inside and did some research. I discovered he is an Eastern Box Turtle. They are identified by their bright orange or yellow shell patterns. You can see that our little visitor is just starting to get his patterns. A little information about these turtles: they are omnivorous and the things they eat include slugs, snails, earthworms, wild berries, insects and carrion. They are some of the only turtles that can completely close their shell to protect themselves from predators (interesting that when we picked him up he didn't close his shell.) They hibernate in winter under leaves and inside old stumps. One of their favorite habitats is in the woods or forests. Also, it is illegal in Tennessee to keep this kind of turtle as a pet. We just couldn't believe this little guy was in our yard and wondered how he got there. Our woods are about 290 feet from our back fence with the pasture in between. If the little guy had walked all that way, plus somehow gotten through our fencing, he was indeed one special little turtle. The only logical explanation we could think of was that a bird had picked him up and dropped him in the yard. Well, we thought the best thing to do for our little visitor was to take him to our woods. However, first we had to find him again. As I said, we had put him in the garden for safekeeping and he had walked under one of the Liatris. Once we found him we took him to the woods and put him down in a nice, safe spot. We named him Tuttle and we hope that he stays safe and grows into a healthy, mature turtle.
In other wildlife news, I know that at least two of the Mockingbirds have babies. I've seen one of them taking worms into the nest in the rose arbor. I can't see those babies, but I can see these....
This nest is in the Honeysuckle right next to the patio. I didn't even know it was there until yesterday when we kept hearing babies chirping. When I checked it out I found three baby Mockers. Mama was close by and started making her "don't move and keep quiet" sounds and the babies obliged.
Remember my Bluebird couple...well they had two babies but unfortunately they didn't survive. However, the couple is not giving up. They have started building a nest in this house...
It's not a Bluebird house but I guess they liked the welcome sign and found it suitable. I've watched them taking nesting material in and I hope if they have more babies they survive. They may have more luck in this house because I've never seen any other birds checking it out.
I hope you enjoyed this special edition of wildlife news. Make sure and keep a close watch because you never know what you might see in your garden!
Until next time....
Happy Gardening!
Words and Photos Property of Christys Cottage Wildlife Garden.
Turtles are so fun in the garden. What a treat!
ReplyDeleteWell, we decided to take him back to the woods. If he was in the garden the dogs would probably bother him. I choose to believe he will live a full life out in the woods.
DeleteOh, such a sweet little turtle - I think you're right about the bird, and I am sure you did a good thing to put him in the forest; maybe you will see him again someday...
ReplyDeleteHi Mia...so good to hear from you! In my heart I have to think we did the right thing. He was so small, but hopefully he'll grow into a mature turtle! Who knows, I could see him again, This just goes to show you that you never know what you'll see in the garden! Thanks for visiting today!
DeleteSonia at Miss Bloomers has had a turtle in her yard/garden for 20 years! She lives in Oklahoma. Her link to a post she did last week about "Mr. T" is: http://missbloomers(dot)blogspot(dot)com/2013/05/starring-mr-t
ReplyDeleteI enjoyed seeing Tuttle. What fun!
Beth
Hi Beth....I probably would have kept Tuttle in the garden if it weren't for our five dogs. While researching I read that wild and domesticated dogs are part of the reason the numbers of these turtles are declining in the wild. I just didn't want to take the chance because I knew Tuttle would have ventured out onto the lawn where he wasn't protected by the little wire fence. I'm so glad you enjoyed reading about Tuttle.
DeleteThose Mockingbird babies are so cute! I'm glad the bluebird couple is not giving up and is nesting again. Looks like they picked an adorable house. They are such beautiful birds.
ReplyDeleteHi Steph....I was so surprised to see that nest and those babies! Mama is always close by and starts making noises every time I walk by (which is all the time since it's right by the patio!) I was so sad when I found the Bluebird babies. I hope they have better luck in this house. Thanks so much for visiting!
DeleteHi and so glad Beth told you about Mr. T...we have had so much fun over the years "finding" him. He is hiding out again for the past few days...but usually will just reappear off and on during the summer months. Your new baby turtle may just be finding his territory...they stay very near their birthplace and even if taken away will return year after year. I can't believe Mr. T has survived this many years...I have even found him on our driveway...it's a miracle he has not been run over! Enjoy your new friend Tuttle! Funny Tuttle is a town just south of us. We had a horrible tornado in Oklahoma today and I obviously can't sleep so I'm up reading blogs! Thanks for visiting and I'm following your blog by email now!
ReplyDeleteMiss Bloomers
Hello...first, I hope you're OK...those tornadoes were just horrible!!! I was so happy to read your posts about Mr T. Since we took Tuttle down to the woods, we probably won't see him again since it's so far for a little guy to walk, but we can hope. I really think a bird must have dropped him in our yard. If we didn't have five dogs I probably would have kept him in our garden, but I know they would have "bugged" him so he's better off in the woods. I've put you on my reading list so I can follow your blog and I appreciate that you are following mine!! Thanks for dropping by!
DeleteWhat a lovely little visitor to your garden Tuttle is, I hope he pops up now and again so you know he's safe. I love your little nesting boxes for the bluebirds. How could they turn down the offer of such a sweet home, complete with it's own flower garden :-)
ReplyDeleteHi Paula....Tuttle was so little, so I hope he's OK down in the woods! I did an earlier post about those Bluebirds. They turned up one day and the male kept coming to the window and looking in. I would move from room to room and he would follow me....it was amazing. I hope they are OK in their new home! Thanks so much for stopping by today!
DeleteWhat a cute fella. Boys have red eyes often, so I am just guessing here. I have had two red-eared sliders show up in my garden on two different occasions which was really strange since they like to live at ponds. I took the mean turtles (biting at me) to the local park that had a pond and the other to the lake at the farm. Actually, I found out later that was not legal to do because they are not native to here. I am sure they had great lives there though. My husband had a red-eared as a pet and his name was Killer. He was a friendly turtle and I used to take him on our dog walks and let him swim at the nature centers pool. I was so amazed he would swim around and come back to me. They make nice pets and I was thinking that is how the two turtles, both full grown, ended up in my garden. They might have been pets that got away. Your idea of a bird dropping the small box turtle is a good thought too. Box turtles are illegal to possess in NYS too, but I think they were permitted at one time.
ReplyDeleteHi Donna...I bet you're right about the red-eared sliders being pets at one time. I bet they're living a good life at the pond and lake. Funny about Killer..he sounds just like a dog, taking a swim and always coming back. He knew he had it good! So glad you came by today!
DeleteLove the box turtle! I'm in North Carolina, near a wet and wooded area, so box turtles are regular visitors to my yard. Often you can see them just lazily crossing the street - where they are going I have no idea. They get pretty big, as you probably know, so the next time your turtle visits you probably won't have trouble spotting him.
ReplyDeleteHi Sarah...I'm so glad you stopped by! I think it would be very exciting to have these turtles come by on a regular basis. We put Tuttle down in the woods because we have five dogs and I was afraid they would bother him too much! Hubby and I have actually stopped our vehicle and moved turtles out of the street so they won't get hit by cars. (I think sometimes people hit them on purpose!)Thanks so much for visiting and I hope you drop by again!
DeleteI enjoyed reading about your turtle and bird adventures. My yard is also a certified wildlife habitat, and I find one of the great joys of gardening is wildlife watching. That being said, however, I find there is some wildlife I don't get along with -moles, voles, and often squirrels. Last night a squirrel completely dug a small hosta out of a pot on the porch! Urgh!
ReplyDeleteHi Beth...I'm so glad you enjoyed reading about my wildlife adventures. I also enjoy watching all the wildlife...they bring me so much happiness. I agree about the moles, voles and squirrels. We didn't have squirrels for a couple of years and now they're back at the feeders cleaning them out within an hour. I have to tell you what happened last night...we went out to look at something in the garden and my dogs ran to the herb bed. I thought there might be a baby bird so I went over to look. There I saw one of the most freakish things ever....a snake had a toad halfway in his mouth and the toad was still alive. I absolutely freaked!!! Hubby scared the snake who let go of the toad. We thought the toad would not live, but I checked today and he was gone...I saw him later in another spot. I guess that's just part of Mother Nature, but I sure don't want to see it!!! Thanks for dropping by!
DeleteWOW, Christy, rescuing toads from snakes! Crazy stuff!
DeleteI hope the little bluebirds have lots of babies this next time. The turtle is truly a mystery. I have to tell this story - I was driving along last weekend, and saw a turtle in the road. I started to slow down, but I promise - that turtle began running! He was moving faster than I could go! I bet that's not the first time he's crossed that road!
ReplyDeleteHi HG....I began laughing when I read your story...I can just see that turtle running down the street!! We've actually got out of our vehicle and moved turtles that were in the road so that they wouldn't get run over. None of them every started running, but I would sure laugh if they did!! So glad you stopped by and that you shared your story!!
DeleteSo cute! Neat to hear about the wildlife in your garden.
ReplyDeleteHope the blue birds have better luck next time. Cute house for them.
Hi GoSS...we always have so much wildlife but this spring we have more than usual. We have five Mockingbird nests that I'm aware of plus all different birds, snakes, toads, squirrels and of course one turtle! I sure hope the Bluebirds find that house lucky, I've been so worried about them. Thanks so much for visiting my garden!
DeleteWe get the occasional turtle visiting our garden ... such a treat! I wish one would stay around and get rid of the slugs! Our grandson named the first turtle he found here 'Timmy' and they have all been called Timmy since. We have lots of nesting activity too, but I haven't found our mocking birds' nest this year. Your garden is lovely -- no wonder the critters enjoy it! P. x
ReplyDeleteHi Pam...thank you so much! If we didn't have five dogs I would have let Tuttle stay in the garden, but I was afraid the dogs would bother him too much. We have five Mocker nests that I'm aware of which really surprises me since they are so territorial. They have been putting on quite a show for us. We try to make the garden wildlife friendly! So glad you stopped by for a visit!
DeleteWhat a wonderful surprise! I guess you never know what you'll find in your garden once you invite in the local wildlife.
ReplyDeleteHi Debbie....you can say that again. I've seen all kinds of wildlife just in the past week. Thanks for visiting my garden today!
DeleteYou have a garden angel who brings creatures to you that need your garden and your help. :o) I once found a turtle in my mailbox but I think it was put there by some students. I put it in the woods, too.
ReplyDeleteHi...you know, I think you're right! I can't tell you how many critters I've helped, especially lately. We even saved a toad from a snake recently....very gross, but the toad was OK. I hope Tuttle is doing OK...he was so little. I bet you were so surprised when you opened your mailbox...I hope it wasn't a snapping turtle! Thanks so much for stopping by today!
DeleteWhat a nice surprise! Friends who live along a nearby small river have had turtles come up and even lay eggs in their yards, but I've never heard of them traveling too great a distance either. So sorry about the bluebird offspring, but I can't blame the parents for choosing the new house--the landscaping surrounding it is awesome!
ReplyDeleteHi Rose...It was a nice surprise!! I wish we could have let him stay in the garden but I was afraid our five dogs would bother him. The Bluebirds are definitely using that house...the female flies out every time I walk by. The three Mocker babies in the picture have left the nest and I saw them walking around the yard doing what I call the Mocker Walk. Thank you for your nice comments and for taking time to visit today!
DeleteOh I love your surprises...this is the rime of year we may see turtles crossing the yard from pond to pond...box and snapping.
ReplyDeleteHi Donna....It seems like lately there is always a surprise in the garden...either something growing or a critter! I'm so glad you stopped by!
DeleteHow fun to find a turtle when you didn't expect it! I love the hardscapes and design of the birdhouses and the chairs for viewing (I'm guessing that's the purpose?). That entire area is sweet!
ReplyDeleteHi...thank you so much!! Yes, most of the chairs are for viewing...we have many areas to sit and relax in the garden. The "settee" in the picture of the Bluebird house was a gift from a lady that came to our garden tour last year. It's too old to sit in, but makes a cute vignette. I'm so glad you like that area which is part of Morrow Park. It's not even one year old, so the shrubs still have a ways to go and the area will really fill out! Thank you for visiting!
DeleteA garden seems to always have a way to keep you surprised. I would be so thrilled to find something like a turtle in my garden. Lucky you! I hope the blue birds do better with their second nest.
ReplyDeleteHi Jennifer....I totally agree about surprises in the garden...it can be critters or flowers..you just never know! I wish we could have kept Tuttle in the garden, but I was afraid the dogs would bother him, so I think he's better off in the woods. The female Bluebird continues to go in and out of the house so I have my fingers crossed! Thanks so much for visiting today!
DeleteA turtle in our woods would be a surprise as well. Still we're only less than a quarter of a mile from a pond and a creek....:)
ReplyDeleteHi tb....finding Tuttle was a wonderful surprise. I hope he's doing OK in our woods. I'm sure there was plenty of food for him! Glad you stopped by!
DeleteI'm glad the critters are finding what they need from your habitat. What fun for you! I hope Tuttle is doing well.
ReplyDelete