When we went out this morning a turtle the same size and species as the one last week was digging through the decorative gravel between the bush and the front walk. I guess turtles don’t quite fit Bode’s conception of things, must be a herd dog thing. He wants to chase it, but as a second option is treating it as vermin. He again tried jumping on its shell in an attempt to flush it out. It was hard, but “walkies” won out. The turtle had some dog saliva on its shell, but seemed unharmed otherwise. When we returned the turtle was in the same spot. We went in the back door.
Depending on which weather report you believe, we have somewhere between 20 and 40 percent chance of rain today. I decided to go ahead and water the vegetables and flowers anyway, figure they could use the drink right now and with the way thunderstorms can be spotty, might be their only water today.
The turtle went onto the walk and put its nose down onto the place moistened by the spray. I got a dish of water for it, which it seemed to appreciate. I don’t know if perky is a good description for a reptile, but it certainly became more lively after its drink.
Bode watched it from his post behind the storm door. The turtle has moved enough gravel that quite a patch of landscaping cloth is showing.
Bode alerted me when the children next door returned from visiting their grandmother. When they came over to look, the turtle made its way quickly across the front walk and into the side yard.
thirsty turtle
