Today, I have a sweet wildlife Wednesday. It’s a bit lengthy, but please bear with me.
On June 1, I happened to look out our bedroom window and saw this turtle in our flowerbed.
Since it was digging with its hind feet, I thought that it was most likely a female, preparing to lay eggs. I snapped a quick picture to use for a Windowpane Wednesday post.
Later, as I walked by the flowerbed, I took this picture.
And a few hours later, I noticed that she had moved over to a spot between a liriope and our deck.
And, as of Saturday morning, June 4, she was in that same spot. She’d sort of dug herself a little trench there, and sometimes when I’d check on her, she would be turned in the opposite direction.
I couldn’t help but think that she just wasn’t doing well. Most of the time, she was resting her chin on the mulch. So, on Monday, I posted on Facebook, asking if any of my friends might know someone I could call for turtle information. A friend gave me the number for a nearby city park. I called and spoke with a ‘turtle expert’, who suggested that I mist our visitor with a garden hose.
Here’s a video of that (keep in mind that I was video-ing and misting at the same time). As you can see, she almost mowed down my hibiscus as she was walking.
That was the most I’d seen her move for several days. I was hopeful, but soon, she was back in her little dugout. And was still there the next morning.
So I misted her once again, and she came out into the flowerbed.
And right after I took this picture….. She. Winked. At. Me. I took my teary-eyed self in the house to tell Motor Man what had just happened. He went to the window and told me that she was heading for the gate. (Her entrance/exit was the space below the gate.)
I went back outside in time to get this video of her heading to the river:
And no one will ever convince me that her wink wasn’t a combination thank-you and good-bye.
~These Days Of Mine~
these days of mine 
Oh, my goodness! I just love this!!! She winked at you!! That’s so precious!!! 💕💕💕💕
Maybe she just needed a little rest and chose your garden as a safe place. I’m glad you were there to receive her thanks in the form of a wink – that sprinkle of water may have reminded her that there was a big wide world of water close by. Farewell Ms. Turtle – happy swimming! I’m sure the Keen B&B would happily welcome you again some time…………
Pam
How Sweet! It must be turtle and egg-laying season. We’ve had a couple of turtles through the yard too. One was a snapper, which we let head on her way. The other was a box turtle that was exhibiting egg-laying behavior too. Neat that she rested and headed on her way. You’re obviously a great hostess.
She knew exactly where to come,
just how long to stay,
and the next location on her mind ….
she picked the right yard –
Aw! All God’s critters know your home is a haven. That’s what I think.
Turtles are such neat animals ! Thank you and your turtle-expert friends for taking good care of her !
I love your story. You truly have an animal kingdom.
That is a lovely story.
Animals can be mysterious sometimes. I don’t understand why the misting helped since she knew where the water was, but I am glad it did.