Rescue Questions...
IF YOU NEED TO RELINQUISH A TURTLE OR
TORTOISE
If you have an injured turtle or
tortoise, take it to a veterinarian immediately. If you have found
a turtle or tortoise, or need to relinquish your turtle or tortoise,
please keep it in a safe enclosure with some shade and access to some
shallow water. The turtle or tortoise must be kept totally away from
dogs. Contact our rescue teams at one of these email addresses:
WATER
TURTLES A water turtle may venture away from its pond for some
"sun and fun." But it still needs to be submerged a majority of the
time to survive. Identify a water turtle by large webbed back feet.
Water turtles must have water to swim in or their shells and skin will
dry out. For help with water turtles, email...
water.rescue@sdturtle.org
LAND
TURTLES OR TERRAPINS Land turtles include "box" turtles,
because their shells are higher than other turtles, looking more like a
WWII infantry helmet. This is typical of land turtles. They
have back feet that may be slightly webbed, but not flat bottomed feet
as a tortoise or as broad "paddle" feet like a water turtle. Land turtles do not have to live
in ponds to survive, but should always have a shallow dish of water to
soak in. To contact us about a box turtle, email us at...
box.rescue@sdturtle.org
TORTOISES
(Below) - Adult tortoises are usually larger than
turtles (not so for juveniles.) Identify tortoises by their thick,
stalky
back legs
- shaped similar to a elephant's. Many tortoises
have spiny
scales on their front legs to help them burrow in the earth.
Look
below and through our
Care Sheets and determine exactly which
tortoise you are contacting us about, it will speed up our response.
If you cannot make a
guess as to the species, please send a photo to:
tortoise.rescue@sdturtle.org. Special rescue email
addresses...
AFRICAN
SULCATA TORTOISES
Email us at...
sulcata.rescue@sdturtle.org
RUSSIAN
TORTOISES
Email us at...
russian.rescue@sdturtle.org
RED-FOOT
or YELLOW-FOOT TORTOISES
Email us at...
redfoot.rescue@sdturtle.org
LEOPARD
TORTOISES
Email us at...
leopard.rescue@sdturtle.org
DESERT
TORTOISES
Email us at...
desert.rescue@sdturtle.org
FOR OTHER QUESTIONS ABOUT RELINQUISHMENTS AND
RESCUES - CONTACT US
We are an all volunteer organization with no paid staff. Please be
patient.
The best way to contact us is by email. Include your
(1) name, (2) phone number, and (3) the area of San Diego County where you are.
Send your email to...
QUESTIONS ABOUT ANIMAL CARE We have turtle and tortoise care experts that can help you find the answers you need. Email: info@sdturtle.org
ABOUT ADOPTION REQUESTS Go to our adoptions page, and follow the four-steps-to-adopt listed there. Then if you have questions: adoptions@sdturtle.org
LOST AND FOUND TURTLES If you want us to keep an eye out for a lost turtle or report a turtle you found (and are holding), contact: lostandfound@sdturtle.org
GENERAL SOCIETY INFORMATION For questions about upcoming meetings, events, membership or donations: info@sdturtle.org
