When critters come knocking: "the doorbell rang, and..."

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Posted by Terry, Albino Tricolors on July 28, 2000 at 16:16:13:

Whether or not the pictures prove it, this IS a true story.
The doorbell rang. I went to the door. John, the postman, is there, but when I look at him, he looks down at my feet.
So I do, too.
There's a gopher tortoise there, nose to the door.
"Where'd you get him?" I ask.
"That's where he was when I got here," John says.
It's a beautiful one, unblemished, not real big--shell length 7 3/4". We ponder it for a while, it starts to come inside, then turns and begins to crawl away.
I live in a small neighborhood of 26 homes, surrounded on 3 sides by brackish bays and one side by a canal. We're linked to the mainland by a small bridge. Homes are on standard suburban lots. In the six years i've lived here, this is the third tortoise to show up. There's a golf course on the other side of the canal, and when the first tortoise showed up I figured it might have come from there. Sure enough, I did locate some burrows off the fairways when I took it back. So that's where this fella will go, too.
Now if only a snow or ghost hondo would be at the door next time the bell rings. I guess I'll have to keep watching the eggs that are incubating for that happy outcome.
Peace
Terry

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Cool story, Terry............. Terry Cox 07/28/00 (0)

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: Whether or not the pictures prove it, this IS a true story. : The doorbell rang. I went to the door. John, the postman, is there, but when I look at him, he looks down at my feet. : So I do, too. : There's a gopher tortoise there, nose to the door. : "Where'd you get him?" I ask. : "That's where he was when I got here," John says. : It's a beautiful one, unblemished, not real big--shell length 7 3/4". We ponder it for a while, it starts to come inside, then turns and begins to crawl away. : I live in a small neighborhood of 26 homes, surrounded on 3 sides by brackish bays and one side by a canal. We're linked to the mainland by a small bridge. Homes are on standard suburban lots. In the six years i've lived here, this is the third tortoise to show up. There's a golf course on the other side of the canal, and when the first tortoise showed up I figured it might have come from there. Sure enough, I did locate some burrows off the fairways when I took it back. So that's where this fella will go, too. : Now if only a snow or ghost hondo would be at the door next time the bell rings. I guess I'll have to keep watching the eggs that are incubating for that happy outcome. : Peace : Terry

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