Worries abounding.

[valis2]

I was just driving home and passed a turtle. A turtle on the largish side (about a foot long). It looked like a dark rock, but I immediately knew what it was, and I was so worried, because it looked like it was walking a little strangely. It was perpindicular to the road, obviously trying to cross it, which is bad; it's the end of rush hour and it's a busy two-land road. It was in the third lane, which is used to go around people who are turning left there.

I came back and parked, and as I walked up behind it, it broke my heart by retreating into its shell every time a car whooshed past. It wasn't a snapper, thank goodness, because they can bite you even if you hold them by the very back of their shells, so I picked it up and took it across the street.

But there's nothing much across the street, so then I took it back to where it (presumably) had come from, which is a big lake with some wild shore still left.

Now I'm second-guessing myself, because it might have wanted to lay eggs or something. I'm totally worried that it is, at this moment, laboriously turning itself around in order to try to cross the street again.

It'll take it awhile, I'd imagine, so I'm going to go check in another hour. *frets*

ETA: No sign of the turtle. *giant sigh of relief*

Comments

[florence-craye.livejournal.com]

Awww, you an I are soul sisters! We saw and hung out with a wren fledgling yesterday afternoon. I posted pictures in my flickr today. Last night, it rained and I was worried because it hadn't learned to fly yet and I wanted it to be safe. It took all I had to not go out there and look for it.

This afternoon, we walked by the big woodpile in the backyard, and some of the other wrens flew away from it. The little one we saw yesterday was sheltering under a log and still can't fly. It's most likely a few days younger than the others. I will probably go back out and check on it later, just to ease my mind as well.

I am glad you will check on the turtle again. I would be worried too!

[valis2.livejournal.com]

hee! Yeah, I would have been just as concerned about the wee wren! Poor little thing.

I'm just so worried about the turtle. I hope when I go back that it's nowhere to be seen. *worries*

[florence-craye.livejournal.com]

Yay, I'm glad it was out of sight!

I went back outside and checked on the wren. There was another one hopping around near it, and the mother was encouraging them. So I felt better that they were still being taken care of and making progress towards flying.

[cactus-wren.livejournal.com]

You're going to go back, you're so cute. That's very sweet of you.

Btw, did you see this?

[valis2.livejournal.com]

I would never be able to sleep, otherwise! Seriously!

And yes, I totally saw that, and I'm squeeing! Though recent fandom brouhaha makes me wonder who is really going to stay here...

[cactus-wren.livejournal.com]

I'm staying, at least for awhile. The fandom thing didn't really affect me at all. But I'm not buying a perm account. I can't afford it right now and besides, I've not made too many posts beyond book challenge posts this year and when I do no one comments on them anyhow. not having a pity party, just sayin'. So it's not worth the money to buy a perm account. I'll probably just go back to the free one this year.

[valis2.livejournal.com]

I'm really waffling. I'm still bummed that I wasn't around last time, because the timing would have been perfect.

I still might do it. I just have to really think about what I'll be doing online for the next five years.

[ziasudra-fic.livejournal.com]

I think you did what was best for the turtle. I mean, it wasn't going to be successfully laying eggs if it (she?) ends up stuck in the middle of a road, right? And at least there's water and presumably sources of food on the side you brought it back to.

I have a soft spot for turtles. I used to have two, and they were my first pets.

[valis2.livejournal.com]

I love turtles. There was a swamp on the other side, but it would have been a very long haul for the poor thing. I'm so hoping that it will be okay...I will go out in another half hour to check on it. :)

[todayiamadaisy]

I tried to rescue a fledging bird that landed on the road once and the mother bird came and pecked me. So much for helping. :-)

[valis2.livejournal.com]

haha!! It is funny when they won't be helped for their own good, isn't it?

[imafarmgirl.livejournal.com]

Aww, you're so special. We need more people like you in the world.

[valis2.livejournal.com]

More like me? But then we'd be overrun in squid!

[gina-r-snape.livejournal.com]

Oh bless! You're so sweet.

You got it out of traffic, which is the best you could possibly do. I seriously doubt you've done any lasting harm by moving it.

[valis2.livejournal.com]

I really hope not. I hope it doesn't try again! I'll drive past the lake tomorrow morning on my way to work, and if it's there, I just might cry.

[seaislewitch.livejournal.com]

We had a similar situation on our street. There were lots of new homes being built, so the animals were losing their habitats. That also meant big dump trucks and little turtles in the road! We had to move a few of them -- any number of times. *understands*

[valis2.livejournal.com]

It's nerve-wracking, and heart-breaking!

I'm still worried. :(

[rinsbane.livejournal.com]

oh my goodness, that breaks my heart just a little reading about it. I'm a sop for animals - I get very worried about them. This is not helped by the fact that one of my dogs is a 20 lb. car chaser, out of control. I guess he's my parents' dog, but how I fret! It sounds like you did the right thing - there's no way to know what goes on in a turtle's mind, and if it's determined, you can't stop it.

[valis2.livejournal.com]

It just reminds me of when they built a new road through a thicket of woods, and the first day they opened the road I drove along it, and there was a lone pheasant at the edge of the road looking absolutely bewildered, and I cried.

On the lighter side...you're making me want to write a ficlet exploring the mind of a determined turtle. lol.

[mingbutterfly.livejournal.com]

Eep, poor turtle! But he couldn't have a better friend than you. :-)

When you rule the world, I take it Class Reptilia will fare only slightly less well than Class Cephalopoda? *many hugs* for you and your kind heart.

[valis2.livejournal.com]

You are correct...Reptiles will have it very cushy indeed! Mandatory heat lamps will be installed everywhere...hee!