Hibernation did not go well for some of the Bunker residents who chose to come out of their safe doghouses and, behind my back, go down into the large holes in the ground left behind by the rotting roots of the huge maple tree. I was afraid this would happen and my worst nightmare came true. A few days after my discovery, with a heavy heart and little energy, I had to clean out the water turtle pond because the sun was turning the water green with algae. As I lowered the bucket into the water to start emptying the pond, the first thing I saw swoop into it was a brand new baby red-eared slider. It took me by surprise, and as I held this very tiny turtle in the palm of my hand, tears were welling up in my eyes and everything fell into place at that moment.
Life Goes On.
A shelter is very important to our turtle and tortoises well being. Without a suitable shelter, they have no choice but to burrow underground. Chelonians need a shelter to sleep in, to get out of the sun or to escape a predator or another aggressive tortoise. Several can occupy a shelter and it is important to keep the shelter as clean as possible because there is a lot of pooing going on in there as well as hiding and sleeping. Wooden structures make the best shelters.