Turtle?

[Fishblade_Bluestream]

Today, when I was out walking, I found a turtle on the side of the road. It has only three legs, but it seems healthy. What should I do? Oo;

[AFI_Sorrow]

I suppose you should take it to a vet for a quick check up. Three legs...hmmm... poor thing. Does it look like his leg got torn off or does it look like a birth defect?

[shapu]

Most vets don't know much about turtles. Call around first, to find one that can at least treat the basic stuff.

Box turtle, snapper, painted...do you know what kind? That will help the vet know what to do.

Alternatively, you could just take it to a local forested area (state parks = good) and let it go. Preferably several hundred feet from a road, and within striking distance of a stream.

[Fishblade_Bluestream]

The leg looks like a birth defect. It's a bit malformed.

I think it's a slider, but I can't be sure.

[shapu]

Well, perhaps set it free near a pond, if it's healthy?

[Igg]

If it seems healthy and not struggling, find a place you can 'set it free' as it were.
If it's a birth defect and it's managing, then cool. It'll be fine.

[.:Requiem:.]

my turtle is a slider. I'd take it to the vet for sure, but then I'd personally want to keep it.

[o_0]

I've got a great recipe for turtle soup somewhere...

Go to a vet. They may help, and if they don't, ask them if they know anyone who knows about them.

[Jen]

A guy hit a pigeon on the road once.
We took it to the vets because it couldn't fly.
They put it down.

Thats my story.




A.k.a. vets aren't always promising.

[Bangel]

<3 my turtle is a slider. I'd take it to the vet for sure, but then I'd personally want to keep it.

Wild animals, even if they're turtles, aren't really good pets.

And Jen- unless the vet was a moron, they probably did it for the pigeon's own good.

[VeraX]

And Jen- unless the vet was a moron, they probably did it for the pigeon's own good.

Or the vet didn't want to look after a wild animal, perhaps.

[smudgeoffudge]

It probably was doing fine when you found it. I would release it again in a safe place in the woods near a stream and some logs or rocks. Turdles don't move that fast anyway, so as long as it can feed itself and crawl into a hole now and then to escape the elements, it will be ok I think. I think in the winter they have to dig a hole or crawl into a hole.

[Kitten Medli]

A guy hit a pigeon on the road once.
We took it to the vets because it couldn't fly.
They put it down.

Thats my story.




A.k.a. vets aren't always promising.

:(

If you aren't 100% possitive, look up some animal rehab places so he can get a quick check-up. :]

[shapu]

Wild animals, even if they're turtles, aren't really good pets.

Don't tell that to my father. He's had a box turtle living in our house since 1985 (his name is Leslie). By 1989, the turtle had stopped being fed raw vegetables and crickets, and now gets nothing but the finest steamed produce, cooked beef, and the occasional treat of Kentucky Fried Chicken.

He also likes having his neck and the top of his head rubbed. And sitting in laps (he'll nibble at the toes of your shoes if he wants picked up).

All in all, it's really disgusting.

[Morningstar]

Too bad you don't live near me. We have a great place run by the county forest preserve that takes in all injured wildlife. They don't kill them unless they feel that the animal is better off that way. Instead, they rehabilitate the animal and if it can't be set free, they keep it in their "museum" for the locals to look at. I have sent countless squirrels, injured birds, and even a possum there. We are lucky. There are quite a few places like that in our area. We may live just outside Chicago, but someone had the foresight to protect a lot of the wild areas around us and make them protected forest preserves.

You might be able to find a place like that near you. I suggest calling the local police dept. and if they are clueless (which is often the case), call a few local vets and see if they can guide you to a wild animal rehab center.