# Found an Injured Turtle **URL:** \ **Category:** In My Humble Opinion\ **Created:** [August 6, 2011, 8:07pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/found-an-injured-turtle/591767 "2011-08-06T20:07:53Z")\ **Posts on this page:** 19\ **Page:** 2
**Author:** ![WhyNot](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/w/c77e96/32.png) [@WhyNot](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/WhyNot)\ **Post date:** [August 8, 2011, 4:05pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/found-an-injured-turtle/591767/21 "2011-08-08T16:05:16Z")
> [@Omar\_Little](#): > > There was kitchy news story several weeks ago about a group of vets that fitted a large tortoise who had lost one of his front legs with a furniture caster on his under shell so that he could still get about. All hope is not lost. [Article with video.](http://www.komonews.com/news/125920009.html) ---
**Author:** ![Omar\_Little](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/omar_little/32/269_2.png) [@Omar\_Little](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Omar_Little)\ **Post date:** [August 8, 2011, 4:08pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/found-an-injured-turtle/591767/22 "2011-08-08T16:08:24Z")
> [@WhyNot](#): > > [Article with video.](http://www.komonews.com/news/125920009.html) Yeah, that’s the one I remember seeing. That 70’s ottoman caster doesn’t look like it’s suitable for much off-road traffic. ---
**Author:** ![StGermain](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/stgermain/32/2868_2.png) [@StGermain](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/StGermain)\ **Post date:** [August 8, 2011, 4:09pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/found-an-injured-turtle/591767/23 "2011-08-08T16:09:54Z")
I have an appointment to take the turtle to the rehab center this morning. I don’t know about a caster - it might be able to get around a manicured lawn, but in the wild? I know turtles are never happy until they get back from where they came from. I’m going to give the rehab center the GPS coordinates for his spot. StG ---
**Author:** ![Freudian\_Slit](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/f/5daacb/32.png) [@Freudian\_Slit](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Freudian_Slit)\ **Post date:** [August 8, 2011, 4:18pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/found-an-injured-turtle/591767/24 "2011-08-08T16:18:21Z")
> [@Mr.Excellent](#): > > A replicant. It’s a “Blade Runner” joke - there’s a scene in that movie where one character is giving a man he suspects of being a replicant a test designed to evoke an emotional response. One of the scenarios in that test involves the test-taker being told that he has flipped a turtle onto its back in the desert, and refuses to help it as it lies helpless and dying. Well, if you’re the one who flips the turtle, doesn’t it make sense that you’re not going to help it? ---
**Author:** ![KarlGrenze](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/k/dbc845/32.png) [@KarlGrenze](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/KarlGrenze)\ **Post date:** [August 8, 2011, 6:38pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/found-an-injured-turtle/591767/25 "2011-08-08T18:38:10Z")
The article **WhyNot** linked is not the only case, I’ve found out. There have been a couple of other cases like that, but they’re usually pets/private collections/zoos/wildlife centers that keep the turtles. Hence, in a limited area, the turtle can get around with that wheel, and if it is destroyed, it can be replaced. ---
**Author:** ![StGermain](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/stgermain/32/2868_2.png) [@StGermain](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/StGermain)\ **Post date:** [August 8, 2011, 10:54pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/found-an-injured-turtle/591767/26 "2011-08-08T22:54:32Z")
Well, the turtle was delivered (150 miles round trip and about $30 worth of gas - she better reproduce like crazy!) and is in expert hands. [Walden’s Puddle](http://www.waldenspuddle.org/) seems to think she’ll be okay, and told me to call on Thursday for an update. They’ll also meet me to deliver the turtle back to me to put back in her habitat, so I don’t have to drive all that way back. StG ---
**Author:** ![Captain\_Amazing](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/c/6de8d8/32.png) [@Captain\_Amazing](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Captain_Amazing)\ **Post date:** [August 8, 2011, 11:19pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/found-an-injured-turtle/591767/27 "2011-08-08T23:19:27Z")
> [@Freudian\_Slit](#): > > Well, if you’re the one who flips the turtle, doesn’t it make sense that you’re not going to help it? One of the quirks of replicants is that they’re not emotionally able to handle the injury of or infliction of suffering on innocent non-human creatures. So, imagining they’ve flipped a turtle on its back and left it to die in the sun is emotionally traumatic to replicants and causes them to panic or erupt in rage. ---
**Author:** ![Ostrya](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/o/35a633/32.png) [@Ostrya](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Ostrya)\ **Post date:** [August 9, 2011, 2:47am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/found-an-injured-turtle/591767/28 "2011-08-09T02:47:01Z")
> [@StGermain](#): > > Well, the turtle was delivered (150 miles round trip and about $30 worth of gas - she better reproduce like crazy!) and is in expert hands. > > [Walden’s Puddle](http://www.waldenspuddle.org/) seems to think she’ll be okay, and told me to call on Thursday for an update. They’ll also meet me to deliver the turtle back to me to put back in her habitat, so I don’t have to drive all that way back. > > StG Thanks for the update, StGermain. Let us know how things turn out, am hoping for the best. ---
**Author:** ![purplehorseshoe](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/purplehorseshoe/32/2996_2.png) [@purplehorseshoe](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/purplehorseshoe)\ **Post date:** [August 9, 2011, 4:00pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/found-an-injured-turtle/591767/29 "2011-08-09T16:00:09Z")
Thanks for both the update and that linky, **StG.** There’s a ton of useful info on that site! ---
**Author:** ![Ostrya](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/o/35a633/32.png) [@Ostrya](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Ostrya)\ **Post date:** [August 15, 2011, 7:53pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/found-an-injured-turtle/591767/30 "2011-08-15T19:53:47Z")
I hate to bump this in case of bad news. But am curious, did the turtle make it okay? ---
**Author:** ![lieu](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/l/c2a13f/32.png) [@lieu](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/lieu)\ **Post date:** [August 15, 2011, 8:01pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/found-an-injured-turtle/591767/31 "2011-08-15T20:01:50Z")
Wow, thanks to **StGermain** we now can actually speak of something moving with the speed of a three-legged turtle without being facetious. What a stellar display of kindness. ---
**Author:** ![StGermain](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/stgermain/32/2868_2.png) [@StGermain](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/StGermain)\ **Post date:** [August 15, 2011, 9:22pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/found-an-injured-turtle/591767/32 "2011-08-15T21:22:06Z")
**the lone cashew** - I called Walden’s Puddle today for an update, and they said she’s still being treated at teh vet. Apparently, turtles are turtle-slow at healing. But she’s still alive. They’ll call me when she’s ready to be released, so I can meet them and put her back where I found her. I moved another turtle off the road on Sunday, and scooted a rattlesnake off, too. With the rattlesnake I just got out a long leadrope and flicked it’s tail until it moved off the road. I took a pic with my phone before I moved it. **Thanks, lieu** - I couldn’t just leave her to suffer. StG ---
**Author:** ![Sal\_Ammoniac](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/s/8dc957/32.png) [@Sal\_Ammoniac](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Sal_Ammoniac)\ **Post date:** [August 15, 2011, 11:07pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/found-an-injured-turtle/591767/33 "2011-08-15T23:07:48Z")
What part of the country do you live in? I’ve never actually seen a box turtle in the wild, and I’ve always wanted to. ---
**Author:** ![StGermain](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/stgermain/32/2868_2.png) [@StGermain](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/StGermain)\ **Post date:** [August 15, 2011, 11:17pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/found-an-injured-turtle/591767/34 "2011-08-15T23:17:35Z")
**Sal** - I’m in Middle Tennessee. The [Eastern Box Turtle](http://nashville.about.com/od/photogallery/ig/Tennessee-State-Symbols/Tennessee-State-Reptile.htm) is the state reptile. [Side view.](http://www.austinsturtlepage.com/Care/cs-easternboxie.htm) The place where I took her has a cuple box turtles that can’t be released due to injury. When I looked in their habitats (each about 3’ X 6’) and didn’t see them the volunteer said they must be down having their morning swim. The rehab center takes great care of their animals. StG ---
**Author:** ![lieu](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/l/c2a13f/32.png) [@lieu](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/lieu)\ **Post date:** [August 16, 2011, 1:59pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/found-an-injured-turtle/591767/35 "2011-08-16T13:59:11Z")
Snake expert **Crotalus** says that likely was a Timber Rattlesnake. ---
**Author:** ![StGermain](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/stgermain/32/2868_2.png) [@StGermain](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/StGermain)\ **Post date:** [August 16, 2011, 2:54pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/found-an-injured-turtle/591767/36 "2011-08-16T14:54:11Z")
**lieu** - I know that officially Tennessee only has Timber and Pygmy rattlesnakes, but this snake sure looked like a diamondback to me. I took a pic, and when I can figure out how to get it off my phone, I’ll post it for **Crotalus** to identify. He was a beautiful snake, with rich velvety-brown diamonds running the length of his body, and about 5 buttons on his rattle. Supposedly a large Eastern Diamondback was killed in the next town over. StG ---
**Author:** ![Motorgirl](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/m/e36b37/32.png) [@Motorgirl](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Motorgirl)\ **Post date:** [August 16, 2011, 3:50pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/found-an-injured-turtle/591767/37 "2011-08-16T15:50:36Z")
> [@Sal\_Ammoniac](#): > > What part of the country do you live in? I’ve never actually seen a box turtle in the wild, and I’ve always wanted to. Sal, we’ve got box turtles galore here in Eastern MA. I saved one recently that was trying to cross the road at the intersection of [Trapelo Rd and Lexington St in Waltham](http://maps.google.com/maps?q=trapelo+road+and+lexington+st+waltham+ma&hl=en&gl=us&z=16&vpsrc=0). It was in the crosswalk, crossing with the light, but after the second turning car passed over him (him? who knows!) I decided to intervene. I left my car, walked up the median and grabbed him. Stopped traffic by imperiously holding up my hand. Didn’t realize that would work. 😃 We drove him to a culdesac nearby and let him go near a brook. He hightailed it away from us as fast as his stumpy legs would carry him (i.e. not very). I assume he was pissed! He had places to be, dammit! He doesn’t know it but his name is Trapelo the Turtle. ---
**Author:** ![Sal\_Ammoniac](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/s/8dc957/32.png) [@Sal\_Ammoniac](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Sal_Ammoniac)\ **Post date:** [August 16, 2011, 5:39pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/found-an-injured-turtle/591767/38 "2011-08-16T17:39:26Z")
> [@Motorgirl](#): > > Sal, we’ve got box turtles galore here in Eastern MA. I saved one recently that was trying to cross the road at the intersection of [Trapelo Rd and Lexington St in Waltham](http://maps.google.com/maps?q=trapelo+road+and+lexington+st+waltham+ma&hl=en&gl=us&z=16&vpsrc=0). Glad you rescued him, but I’m still not convinced they’re all that common here. They’re on the Massachusetts Endangered Species List, after all. And it’s possible the one you rescued was a pet that had been set loose. Unfortunately, I think the real test for commonness of any native species is how often you see them as roadkill. And I don’t think I’ve ever seen a road-killed box turtle here. ---
**Author:** ![Motorgirl](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/m/e36b37/32.png) [@Motorgirl](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Motorgirl)\ **Post date:** [August 16, 2011, 5:50pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/found-an-injured-turtle/591767/39 "2011-08-16T17:50:43Z")
It’s also possible that some or all of the turtles I see from afar are not box turtles. [Previous page](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/found-an-injured-turtle/591767.md?page=1)