Woman Looking For Family Tortoise

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... Linda Gandy can't find one of her family pets ... But it's not a dog or cat she's searching for, it something much more unique ... I'm just looking for my tortoise ... Shelby escaped from his backyard pen ... It's most likely that Shelby headed towards the woods ... looking for a mate ... this isn't the first time Shelby has tried to run free.

Tortoise blamed for fire call

read here about a tortoise that started a house fire!

A giant tortoise named Crush is being blamed for starting a fire in the basement of its home.

Upon entering the basement, firefighters found the tortoise inside a 4-foot by 4-foot box filled with smoldering woodchips.

Duffy said the tortoise apparently knocked over its heat lamp.

“He’s low to the ground so the smoke didn’t get to him,” Costello said.

All I have to say is be careful and be certain how you setup your heat lamps so you don't start a fire of your own!

21st annual San Juan Fiesta and Turtle Fest

Twenty-one years ago, a mere eight turtles competed during the San Juan Fiesta and Turtle Fest, said Frank Torez, head turtlemaster. This year, 96 turtles raced along a nine-lane wooden track.

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Missing tortoise found

SWANSEA, Ill. -- Thelma the tortoise is back at home in Swansea after 18 days of freedom.

Joseph Ponder of Belleville was walking to a convenience store Saturday when he spotted the 30-pound African leopard tortoise.

On his way home, he picked up Thelma and showed her to some people who were driving by.

One of them remembered seeing an article about the missing tortoise in a Belleville newspaper and called the newsroom.

A reporter called Thelma's owner, Margie Rice, who went to Ponder's apartment and got Thelma back.

Rice said Thelma had traveled a number of miles since she fled June 2 from her fenced-in patio at Rice's home, about 15 miles southeast of St. Louis.

It's amazing Thelma hadn't been hit by a car during her long journey, Rice said

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