Animal Rescuers/Wildlife Warriors, Part III

(This is Part III because Rescue 1 was an Indiana Green Frog two years ago, Rescue 2 was a Tiger Salamander last year, and this is Rescue 3.)

Yesterday morning my Mom calls me and says, "Um, can the kids have a pet turtle?" and I said, "TURTLE?!" My mind was blown. I wanted a pet turtle so bad when I was a kid, but Mom wouldn't hear of it because of salmonella. Now, 30 years later, she's calling to ask if my kids can have one?! She said, "Well, yes, we rescued it. It's smaller than a silver dollar." I told Mom I'd have to research it first.

It turns out that Tiny the Turtle is a Red-Eared Slider, native to Indiana, and that a bird probably picked him up and dropped him in the parking lot where my parents rescued him. By his size - roughly one inch of shell - he's probably a brand-new hatchling. I did my research and discovered that we really needed to release Tiny ASAP, or plan on keeping him for a 40-year lifetime. I didn't want a 40-year responsibility, but once they've been kept captive they can't be released successfully, and even though chances are that Tiny will end up as duck-chow in the wild, it's still a better chance than being kept in a tank for 40 years.

So today Marty and I took Tiny down to the river near where he was rescued. We walked down as close to the water's edge as we could. I scooped Tiny out of the tupperware container he was travelling in and held him out to Marty - he really is a gorgeous little beauty of a turtle. I said, "Say goodbye to Tiny Turtle."

Marty gently took Tiny in his little palm and said so very sweetly, "Goodbye, Tiny Turtle." Then, suddenly and totally unexpectedly, he HURLED Tiny Turtle out into the water with all his 3-year-old might! I'm squeaking in this high-pitched not-quite word. There was a little splash, then nothing. We waited. Nothing. Then, a tiny little turlte head popped out of the water, safe and free! He got a breath and dove. Seconds later he reappeared father out, got a breath, and dove. Success!

And I laughed 'til I cried! "Goodbye, Tiny Turtle." PITCH!

In other news, we have a NEW rescue critter: Shaowie (Marty named her), an abandoned leopard gecko.  Shaowie seems to be a hit all the way around.  Both kids think she's super cool!