A Gopher Tortoise

     This little Gopher Tortoise was rescued by a Back to Nature staff from certain road crossing death. I later found out was captured right up the street from my house! So I took this one home and released it deep into my private forest. I know of only one other large Gopher Tortoise that lives there. Little baby tortoises have all been killed by "outdoor" feral domestic cats.
     Today I also took the other Gopher Tortoise out for a half hour free range plant buffet. I gave the large goat named Jennifer a back rub, I held the resident Oppossum for half an hour to keep it socialized. My car is packed with three days of BTN cardboard, which I'll take to a recycling center tonight.
     I got a good picture of a Green Anole. Even though I have many pictures of them, it makes me happy to get one more.
     (next day) I put the Gopher Tortoise under a canoe, where he could come and go, but feel safe. It was kind of an emergency den. The next day it was still there. So I soaked it in water for a few minutes to be sure it wasn't thirsty and set it out in the sun. I came back several hours later and it had not moved. So I put it back under the canoe. It has been cool so I think it just wants to dig in and wait for a warmer day.