Missing Horsfield, maybe hibernating??

clairestortoise · 16-03-2010, 09:23 AM

Hi Thought I would ask...someone I know had a Horsfield who went missing from his outdoor enclosure last year sometime in the summer, I think late summer...

She is now hoping he had escaped and hibernated in the garden, What are the chances of this happening? And is it possible he dug down somewhere in the garden to hibernate? Would have survived our very cold winter? in the south east.

Are there any tips on tempting him back? such as placing his favourite food about in the garden?

Any ideas/advice please Thanks

Box girl · 16-03-2010, 09:54 AM

One of ours did this and despite all our efforts we could not find her in their enclosure. On Sunday she re-emerged all by herself into the sunshine. She is now indoors and eating fine.
All you can do is wait and if it is fine weather then look in the sunny spots.

clairestortoise · 16-03-2010, 09:59 AM

Hi Thanks, Will pass on

..So if he does pop up he is likely to be in a sunny spot yeah?

What condition would be expected as we had a bad winter, would he have suffered in any way? Im thinking more along the line of his eyes, being so cold could have damaged his eyes etc

Box girl · 16-03-2010, 10:47 AM

Ours is fine and we had a lot of snow and frost etc. Horsefields do have the knack of digging deep enough but it would be as well to check eyes and bring in for a bit or TLC for a few weeks. ours was very heavy so I think she sorted it for herslelf although I wish she hadn't!

Our horsefields started to dig down in August!! Hence we dug them up and brought them in.

clairestortoise · 16-03-2010, 10:59 AM

Ok, I see...When you say you dug them up lol..How did you do this without stabbing them with the spade lol??

swad1000 · 16-03-2010, 11:06 AM

Dan hibernates his horsfields in there enclosures I do believe, and his winters make ours look like summer.

Horsfields are very hardy little creatures, hopefully it will pop up no worse for wear.

clairestortoise · 16-03-2010, 11:11 AM

Ok, I will pass all your advice on to her, Thanks

clairestortoise · 16-03-2010, 11:52 AM

Hi Stells LOL...wonderful hehe...Thanks for that

...Its amazing lol

Box girl · 16-03-2010, 02:02 PM

We use our hands if they have dug down you can tell as the earth is soft.

Quote:

Originally Posted by clairestortoise

Ok, I see...When you say you dug them up lol..How did you do this without stabbing them with the spade lol??

clairestortoise · 16-03-2010, 02:28 PM

Right I see lol...You must think i'm stupid for asking, I now feel stupid for asking. lol...I guess you have to watch them as to where they are going to dig. Or else you'd be digging the garden up looking for them lol...

This is new to me, so my silly questions are genuine lol.. I've not hibernated my tort yet, infact I am fairly nervous about it all. So am trying to learn now before I need to start hibernating Teddy. Thanks for all that, IT helps

16-03-2010, 09:23 AM	#1
clairestortoise Member Juvenile Join Date: Jan 2010 Location: Kent Posts: 754	Missing Horsfield, maybe hibernating?? Hi Thought I would ask...someone I know had a Horsfield who went missing from his outdoor enclosure last year sometime in the summer, I think late summer... She is now hoping he had escaped and hibernated in the garden, What are the chances of this happening? And is it possible he dug down somewhere in the garden to hibernate? Would have survived our very cold winter? in the south east. Are there any tips on tempting him back? such as placing his favourite food about in the garden? Any ideas/advice please Thanks __________________ Owner of 3 Horsfield Tortoises 9 Cats, Wallace 15, Blackie 10, Scooby&Phoebe(Bro&Sis) 9, Gucci 6, Snuggles 5 and Oliver 3 and Blossom and Billy 10 months old Tye 9 Yr old Yorkie 2 children 1 Husband http://www.facebook.com/#!/profile.p...e&id=523711412

16-03-2010, 09:54 AM	#2
Box girl Senior Member Sub Adult Join Date: Dec 2009 Location: Glos Posts: 1,326	One of ours did this and despite all our efforts we could not find her in their enclosure. On Sunday she re-emerged all by herself into the sunshine. She is now indoors and eating fine. All you can do is wait and if it is fine weather then look in the sunny spots. __________________ www.ukchelonia.info Money raised to Allwetter Zoo Muenster e6000 sent so far. Have bred-red foots, yellow foots, eastern box, 3 toed box, ornate box, gulf coast box, common musk, elongated tortoise, red eared terrapin, cuora flavomarginata, cuora amboinensis, hermanns tortoise, horsfield tortoise, rhinoclemys.p. manni, european pond turtle, reeves and spurs

16-03-2010, 09:59 AM	#3
clairestortoise Member Juvenile Join Date: Jan 2010 Location: Kent Posts: 754	Hi Thanks, Will pass on ..So if he does pop up he is likely to be in a sunny spot yeah? What condition would be expected as we had a bad winter, would he have suffered in any way? Im thinking more along the line of his eyes, being so cold could have damaged his eyes etc __________________ Owner of 3 Horsfield Tortoises 9 Cats, Wallace 15, Blackie 10, Scooby&Phoebe(Bro&Sis) 9, Gucci 6, Snuggles 5 and Oliver 3 and Blossom and Billy 10 months old Tye 9 Yr old Yorkie 2 children 1 Husband http://www.facebook.com/#!/profile.p...e&id=523711412

16-03-2010, 10:47 AM	#4
Box girl Senior Member Sub Adult Join Date: Dec 2009 Location: Glos Posts: 1,326	Ours is fine and we had a lot of snow and frost etc. Horsefields do have the knack of digging deep enough but it would be as well to check eyes and bring in for a bit or TLC for a few weeks. ours was very heavy so I think she sorted it for herslelf although I wish she hadn't! Our horsefields started to dig down in August!! Hence we dug them up and brought them in. __________________ www.ukchelonia.info Money raised to Allwetter Zoo Muenster e6000 sent so far. Have bred-red foots, yellow foots, eastern box, 3 toed box, ornate box, gulf coast box, common musk, elongated tortoise, red eared terrapin, cuora flavomarginata, cuora amboinensis, hermanns tortoise, horsfield tortoise, rhinoclemys.p. manni, european pond turtle, reeves and spurs

16-03-2010, 10:59 AM	#5
clairestortoise Member Juvenile Join Date: Jan 2010 Location: Kent Posts: 754	Ok, I see...When you say you dug them up lol..How did you do this without stabbing them with the spade lol?? __________________ Owner of 3 Horsfield Tortoises 9 Cats, Wallace 15, Blackie 10, Scooby&Phoebe(Bro&Sis) 9, Gucci 6, Snuggles 5 and Oliver 3 and Blossom and Billy 10 months old Tye 9 Yr old Yorkie 2 children 1 Husband http://www.facebook.com/#!/profile.p...e&id=523711412

16-03-2010, 11:06 AM	#6
swad1000 Senior Member Adult Join Date: Jun 2006 Posts: 2,702	Dan hibernates his horsfields in there enclosures I do believe, and his winters make ours look like summer. Horsfields are very hardy little creatures, hopefully it will pop up no worse for wear.

16-03-2010, 11:11 AM	#7
clairestortoise Member Juvenile Join Date: Jan 2010 Location: Kent Posts: 754	Ok, I will pass all your advice on to her, Thanks __________________ Owner of 3 Horsfield Tortoises 9 Cats, Wallace 15, Blackie 10, Scooby&Phoebe(Bro&Sis) 9, Gucci 6, Snuggles 5 and Oliver 3 and Blossom and Billy 10 months old Tye 9 Yr old Yorkie 2 children 1 Husband http://www.facebook.com/#!/profile.p...e&id=523711412

16-03-2010, 11:52 AM	#8
clairestortoise Member Juvenile Join Date: Jan 2010 Location: Kent Posts: 754	Hi Stells LOL...wonderful hehe...Thanks for that ...Its amazing lol __________________ Owner of 3 Horsfield Tortoises 9 Cats, Wallace 15, Blackie 10, Scooby&Phoebe(Bro&Sis) 9, Gucci 6, Snuggles 5 and Oliver 3 and Blossom and Billy 10 months old Tye 9 Yr old Yorkie 2 children 1 Husband http://www.facebook.com/#!/profile.p...e&id=523711412

16-03-2010, 02:28 PM	#10
clairestortoise Member Juvenile Join Date: Jan 2010 Location: Kent Posts: 754	Right I see lol...You must think i'm stupid for asking, I now feel stupid for asking. lol...I guess you have to watch them as to where they are going to dig. Or else you'd be digging the garden up looking for them lol... This is new to me, so my silly questions are genuine lol.. I've not hibernated my tort yet, infact I am fairly nervous about it all. So am trying to learn now before I need to start hibernating Teddy. Thanks for all that, IT helps __________________ Owner of 3 Horsfield Tortoises 9 Cats, Wallace 15, Blackie 10, Scooby&Phoebe(Bro&Sis) 9, Gucci 6, Snuggles 5 and Oliver 3 and Blossom and Billy 10 months old Tye 9 Yr old Yorkie 2 children 1 Husband http://www.facebook.com/#!/profile.p...e&id=523711412

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