Smart. Sensitive. Sociable (at least with lady box turtles and anything you want to eat). Flexible. Multi-talented. Strong. Speedy. Great climber. Good swimmer. Five-star hibernator. These are just some of the many awesome things about being a 3-toed box turtle. But one of the coolest is your scutes (pronounced “scoots”). The scutes are located onContinueContinue reading “Day 90: Scutes. Scoots.”
Author Archives: Shannon Cutts
Day 89: You and Me and Sea Turtle Makes Three
From the outside looking in, some might assume that tortoises prefer to be solitary. After all, there is all that napping. And the very intent head-down grazing. And then more napping. And then there is the burrowing and the digging and (for some) the hibernating….all quite natural activities for the alleged shelled introvert. But perhapsContinueContinue reading “Day 89: You and Me and Sea Turtle Makes Three”
Day 88: Free Climbing Feathers
In the world of the large featherless beings, “free climbing” up or down the side of something is considered a really big deal. It is a sport, in fact, and those who do it are celebrated for their courage and athletic prowess. Perhaps this is because, lacking either wings or claws, it is a legitimateContinueContinue reading “Day 88: Free Climbing Feathers”
Day 87: Survivor, Box Turtle Edition
The 3-toed box turtle is a very unique species even among chelonians (that is what the large shell-less beings call individuals who look like you). Not only do you have (count ’em) three toes on each of your adorable back legs, but you also have a fancy-schmancy hinged box you can use as your personalContinueContinue reading “Day 87: Survivor, Box Turtle Edition”
Day 86: Turtle Lookout
The sight of a tortoise placidly plodding along evokes different thoughts in different folks. In your large shell-less mama, for example, all you have to do is, well, you don’t even have to do anything and she instantly comes running with snacks and shell scratches. That is called “the power of cuteness.” But in otherContinueContinue reading “Day 86: Turtle Lookout”
Day 85: The Urban Jungle
Living life in the “urban jungle” has its perks…and its pitfalls. This is especially the case if you were born with aerodynamic wings covered in soft, fetching feathers – clearly a being designed to perch up high in a leafy green casa with camouflage and privacy to spare. Instead, you find yourself living in aContinueContinue reading “Day 85: The Urban Jungle”
Day 84: A Very Surprised Box Turtle
Being born with a home on your back is pretty brilliant. When your home is also a totally secure hinged box you can duck into at any time, you can pretty much move to the top of the food chain. But when you can also climb anything climbable (and some things that aren’t), well, that’sContinueContinue reading “Day 84: A Very Surprised Box Turtle”
Day 83: Food Face
Some cold-blooded species can be notoriously picky eaters. But not the redfooted tortoise. Redfoots are often described as “opportunistic feeders” in the scientific literature. Personally, after nearly five years of close daily observation, I would say Malti’s gustatory style comes closer to that of a contestant in one of those “all you can eat” contests.ContinueContinue reading “Day 83: Food Face”
Day 82: Nestaholics
Spring can be a challenging time for any single manly (and oh so masculine) manbird. This is especially the case if you happen to be single for the 19th straight year AND you have a natural talent for what the large featherless beings like to call “DIY home renovation.” In this type of “perfect storm”ContinueContinue reading “Day 82: Nestaholics”
Day 81: We Love Bruce!
The large shell-less being here…. Bruce joined our little flock during a very tumultuous time. Malti had spontaneously taken off on what was to be a six-day wilderness adventure – announcing her plans to no one, least of all her overprotective, anxiety-prone, first-time tortoise mama. After six days of nonstop searching, literally beating bushes, crawlingContinueContinue reading “Day 81: We Love Bruce!”
Love & Feathers & Shells 