XXXXXX my fingers & toes for you & Turk!

Theresa

Moonie, he's probably just exploring :) I know you must be worried, but hopefully soon you will see him in the water like he never left! fingers & toes crossed!!!

hope you find him and he's okay.. Maybe he is just out looking for Turtle Love!

Thanks to all of you.

Mostly I'm worried about colder weather coming. He has never hibernated before!

Awe, poor turtle. I hope you find him soon. Gee thanks, now I want a turtle too, lol.

can't you put a shallow pan or plate out with food on where you thing he might be hiding?
I am too crossing my fingers and hope he comes back.
Let us know!
Lucy

Aww, did ya find him ? It would drive me crazy..Id be out looking all over..LOL

My first thoughts was he was trying to find a place to bunker down for the winter !

Please keep us updated !

XXXXX

Kym

Gosh I hope he is okay,did you find him yet?
Best wishes to you and Turk.
Bonnie

I hope you found him. I found my missing toad earlier hiding in my pot of green onions. Did you check to see if burrowed under the edge of something?

Has your turtle shown up yet? How do they hibernate? Do they dig under the mud under water or find a place on land? Maybe he sensed the change of season and began hibernating already? I couldn't imagine a predator that could take such a big turtle. I hope he's safe and sound somewhere in your yard.
Karyn

Although we spent all day yesterday cleaning and hunting around the yard, we did not find Turk. Lucy talked me into putting out pans of water but so far, nothing. I think Kym may be right and that's he's looking for a place to bunker down for the winter... -if- he can hibernate out of water. I've been searching the internet but so far I can't seem to find out if water turtles have to hibernate in the water, or if they can do it out. Generally they do hibernate under the muck in the water but it's possible I suppose, that he could sleep the winter away on dry land.

If anyone knows the answer to that question, please let me know. Time is running out. He's never been in temperatures under 65 degrees.

Thank you for your concern!

fool4flowers - I'm so glad you found your missing toad! Everytime I go outside i just know Turk is going to be there.

BTW, I failed to mention that my pond is partially above water and it is too tall for him to climb back in on his own. We put up two ramps. Hopefully he'll take advantage of them!

Hi Moonie, He has probably started hibernating already and will come back to your pond in spring..as long as there are no other water resources close by. They start to hibernate when temps go down to 50.
Sliders can hibernate in or out of water..if out, they look to go under hollow logs and such. He may have dug under a shed, or somewhere as well.
I know you are worried and want him back, hopefully he'll pop up before he goes into full hibernation.
Where does he normally overwinter, in the house?

Still no sign of Turk. :(

I've been sick and in bed all weekend but have managed to get up a couple of times and peek out and around the yard some while it was sunny.

Daniella - what I'm not sure about concerning hibernation is that I've read in a few places that water turtles can hibernate outside of water but must be in a wet area. Do you know if that is true or not? It's very dry here. And yes, he spends winters in an aquarium inside.

Moonie, I am sorry there still isnt any sign of him. Hopefully he found a good spot, thats all. Yes, I am pretty sure they need a muddy spot to hibernate. I know you say its dry there, but maybe he found a nice moist spot under a shed or something, and dug down. I hope he's OK. Sorry you have been sick, hope you are feeling better now, if not now, then very soon.