Okay, i don't have long here with this situation, but i'm not sure what to do. There is a Gopher Tortise, which is protected by law to not touch or disturb their doings, floating in my canal behind my house. He looks famished, absolutly lost and confused and swam towards me when i went down there. (i thought it was a sea turtle) Do I get him out of the water (they are not water turtles) and set him on the enpty lot next to me, or do I leave him be and hope he doesn't drown. I don't want to let him drown, and there is NO way he'll be able to get out of the canal, as it is low tide and the canal walls are high. What do I do? I have no intention on feeding or keeping the tortise, I just need to get him out of the water I think! I don't want to get arrested either. Ack! Please help!
2007-09-10 09:06:25 · 4 answers · asked by dreamkillerkitten 3 in Pets ➔ Reptiles
I have gotten him out of the canal, and placed him under a palm tree in the sand in the lot next to me. I think i'm going to call the locals here, and see what they say I should do. Thank you all for responding so quickly!
2007-09-10 09:18:10 · update #1
Id say go ahead and take him out...There is no law stating that you can save a protected species....Help the poor thing out....Im sure it would appreciate the little help.....He can't do anything about it but luckily there is someone out there that wont let it suffer...
2007-09-10 09:11:57 · answer #1 · answered by Anonymous · 1⤊ 0⤋
The poor guy is in distress, obviously, you will need to call a local vet or zoo and ask them what you should do and tell them where he is. I worked at a sea turtle rescue place for two years and people were always bringing in all kinds of land and sea turtles in distress; when an animal is in obvious distress, it is OK to rescue them.
2007-09-10 16:12:03 · answer #2 · answered by Anonymous · 0⤊ 0⤋
To protect both yourself and the tortoise, contact your local office for your state's fish and game office and report this to them - they'll advise you as to what you should do. Since you are closer than they are, and if the tortoise is in immediate danger, they will either give you an okay, or contact a local police force for them to act on this.
2007-09-10 16:17:17 · answer #3 · answered by copperhead 7 · 0⤊ 2⤋
get him out of there and search for an expert to get to help you like a vetrinarian or something like that.
2007-09-10 16:10:46 · answer #4 · answered by spencer t 1 · 1⤊ 0⤋