Bulldinkie, how do the RES handle the winter? I was thinking of bringing them inside before the cold weather sets in. I've heard mixed opinions on their ability to hibernate in PA. Also, the turtles are actually adults. The original owner purchased them from a pet store and had them for over a year. I would say they are at least 5" as it is illegal for pet stores to sell turtles smaller then 4". Since they have been fed pellets and fruit for a long time, I think they have become accustom to it. I don't plan on increasing their population.

Ok, good you still have some. Harden off by introducing them to the outside gradually, a couple hours the first day, 3 hours the next, increase the time a little more each day for about a week. At the same time , gradually introduce them to direct sun, an hour the first day, a little more each day thereafter. Make sure they're watered. Start off with filtered sun, as under a shrub that has leafed out. Since the ones you have left are weakened by the earlier stress, it will take a bit longer for them to turn around. When they look sturdy and dark green they'll be ready to plant in your garden.

No, just red cedar chips (easier on the knees :) ) with thyme planted around the rocks. I hope to find more "walkable" plants to fill it out over time. (I also hope the thyme will "make do" with an inch or two of mel's mix on top of cardboard - if not, I'll try again next year after the board has broken down.)

Not surprised about your cam-we've not had one single IR cam work, and even our trusty Non-typical Cuddeback flash cam went beserk, altho I suspect animal tampering. The same day my cam broke, a neighbor's dog went beserk barking at dawn, so he turned it loose. Jeff said he and his two sons saw a "black panther" stick its head around the barn, give the dog one swipe across the face, then walk off into the woods without a backward glance. He said it had a "3 foot tail." I was nervous about our dogs, but he said the cat only attacked in self-defense and didn't kill the dog tho he had to 2 take it 2 the vet for stitches. I kept reminding myself that jaguars don't attack people last night while we were sleeping in our screen tent with front flap open when I kept hearing it (?) bawling in the woods behind our house. It happened 5-6 times over two hours time-each time all the dogs in neighborhood would go beserk. Luckily, none of our dogs are loose. I'm still waiting to get my cam back. Since most of the birds spooked and avoided the new chair blind, even tho it was hidden in the brush, I'm going to try out a new bird blind prototype invention idea this a.m. that should make me "invisible" and draw birds to me at the same time.