is this a california desert tortoise?

Question

http://sports.webshots.com/photo/2556383230097617074noEGhK


http://sports.webshots.com/photo/2160179410097617074SFCofk

http://sports.webshots.com/photo/2434368230097617074UTvuTg

I know you're probably going to think im lying, but i found it infront of my house walking in the sidewalk. I thought its owners would come look for it, but looks like im stuck with it.If it is what should i know? Are they illegal to have? If they are what should I do with it? Who do I call, etc?

also I dont live anywhere near the desert. I live near Los angeles

also, do they hibernate? I read that by late october if they eat less and appear sluggish to place them somewhere where they can hibernate. Well mine is doing that.Should i place him in a box til march?

Answer 1

yes it is a california desert tortise, and if you live in la, then you do live close to a desert, actually you live in a desert, and this is their natural range, i found one a few years back, much smaller than the one you found, but it escaped from my yard, on the legality, it is illegal to go out and cathc them and bring em home, but if you found it, you found it, and you problably saved its life from being hit by a car, they naturally live here so the weather and seasons dont really effect them, if he wants to hibernate, he will, if not, he will just chill and eat grass and lettuce and fruit you give him... if you really wnat to get rid of it, ill take it off your hands and he can be my african spur thighed tortises new friend, I live in la too... [e-mail] good luck

oh.. and they are escape artists, so if you do want to keep em, make sure there are no places in your yard that he can get out from, dig under etc etc

Answer 2

check out a book from the library or see if you can get an appointment with a vet to see if they know anything after all there supposed to know something about animals. It to bad I couldn't help you more but that's all I know.