Today we have a talk second piece in a set, Turtle Shell Damage and Repair Update.

In March we had a water turtle come in with shell damage. We did a talk on Turtle Shell Damage and Repair.

In March, we patched the shell and released the turtle to our local pond. It was just an accident that 3 months later this same turtle was in need of help again.

Luckily, this time he was only stuck in a fence, not damaged. We carefully removed him from his tangle as he was very angry. It is always a good idea to be very careful around water turtles, they are usually angry and often bite. We removed him from the wire fence and took him back to the pond. As we picked him up, we realized that it was the same turtle we had repaired in March. The flex tape patch that we put on him in March had worn almost off the shell. There was still a small piece of flex tape on the outside corner holding the patch on.

We did not remove this as, again, he was very unhappy with our pestering him again. We checked the stability of what was once a large hole in the turtle’s shell and decided it was a good heal. We again, put the turtle back into the local pond.

It is not very common to get the same turtle back months later so you can see how your work has fared. But when you do, it is good to see that the procedure worked and that the turtle has healed and is in good shape. It is rewarding to see your efforts pay off for the turtle. None of our efforts or time improved this turtle’s attitude but it is worth it to see how you can help wildlife if you take the time to care and try.

If you did get to read the original post with all the details, feel free to check out Turtle Shell Damage and Repair.

We have had several other turtles in for repair. We thought you might like to see pics of the other turtles also. All of these turtles have been rehabbed and released as quickly as possible. It is best to get wildlife in and out as soon as you can to keep stress on them down.

Loggerhead turtle: This fellow had no damage but was picked up in a bad situation, where he could have been hurt. He was removed and relocated to a safe, new home.

When dealing with this kind of water turtle, you must be very careful. They are highly aggressive, very strong, and can bite through sticks with ease. If you come across one of these, as with all water turtles, take great care in handling them and never use your hands to pick one up.

Another very important thing to note, most water turtles will turn their necks sideways along their sides to bite. Most people tell you it is safe to hold a water turtle at the back of the shell so it can not bite you. This is mostly true. That does not mean that they can not scratch you with the long nails on their back feet, so be careful about that.

However, Loggerheads have a neck that can go all the way over their own back and bite you when you are holding them by the back of their shell. So do not hold a loggerhead at the back of the shell. As a matter of safety do not hold one at all. It is safest for you and the turtle to use a shovel with a long handle to scoop it up or push it along. A large bucket comes in handy also. There is really no sure way to move a loggerhead in total safety. So do be aware of this if you stop to give aid to a loggerhead along your way.

This is a Gopher Tortoise. They are beautiful, rare, gentle giants that live in sandy areas. She was hit by a car, which cracked her shell all the way around. The size and weight of these wonderful, large turtles make it necessary to use a firm repair to be sure you get a good hold and a solid seal.

We used good, old-fashioned Duct Tape to wrap all the way around her several times. This wrap keeps her shell together so it can re-seal and keep the weight from pulling her apart. With time, the duct tape will wear off, so there is no danger of it impeding shell growth.

Box Turtle: This poor girl was also hit by a car. The impact broke her shell and made a piece of it jamb into her shoulder. The shell piece was removed and she was treated with antibiotics for a few days. The wound was covered to prevent infection or foreign particles from getting in. Within a week, the skin was healing well and scar tissue was forming to keep the area secure.

Here is her release picture. You can see the scar tissue covering the injury. She will be fine with this small piece missing and eventually it will fill in.

As you can see from the damage pictures, car wrecks are a very common injury for turtles. Turtles can not help but cross the road, like most wildlife. When you are driving, please be aware of the possibility that local wildlife will be using the roads also, and watch out for them. They can not watch out for themselves. Turtles can be the victims of lawn movers and 4-wheelers. Dogs will often “play” with turtles and damage them as well. Please be careful of turtles and other wildlife, they live here also.

We hope you have enjoyed Turtle Shell Damage and Repair Update on the turtles that we rehabbed and released this year.

If you are interested in more local wildlife, please check out From Tadpole to Frog: The Life Cycle of the Frog.

Thank you for visiting and please come again, for another edition of Out Standing in the Field.