A recent Reddit thread had a call for help– a tortoise named Bowser was missing around 5th and Howard. Fortunately, Bowser, who was sunbathing in the yard, didn’t get far. He emerged from his hiding spot in the nearby garage after he was lured out with some fresh tomatoes.
But it got us thinking about these unusual pets and what considerations tortoise owners need to make, especially in a cold climate like Wisconsin, so we talked to several locals about their beloved shell-bearing friends.
“I’m glad he was found, that’s good news,” says Bill Stewart, who started Kenosha’s Badgerland Reptile Rescue, a 501(c)(3), with his wife in 2021. They take in reptiles that people can no longer care for, “for whatever reason,” until they can find a new adoptive home. Stewart also runs WPS Reptiles, a business that brings animals to special events like birthday parties and school functions. He currently has about 30 tortoises and adopted his first, a South American red-foot tortoise named Chunk, in 2013. Chunk is still with him today – tortoises have long life spans, ranging from 40 years to well over 100.
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“I always tell people to consider reptiles as pets. They are unique, fascinating animals that can be just as quirky and personable as a cat or dog,” Stewart says and dismisses the idea they don’t have the same bond.
He does add that they can be “uniquely challenging pets.” Warm blooded mammals can adjust their body temp but “we have to keep tortoises happy by replicating their climate.” How warm that climate needs to be varies a bit from species to species, so it’s important to do a little research. UV lights can help, “but nothing beats natural sunlight, especially for a tortoise,” so getting some outside time in the warm months does them well.
Stewart is not surprised Bowser slipped away, noting that unlike the famous fable with the speedy hare, tortoises can move surprisingly fast. “They’re not like a cheetah or a dog but if you divert your attention, they can vanish pretty quickly,” Stewart says. He adds that their coloring often helps them blend into a hiding spot that could be right in front of your face.
Several Milwaukeeans shared stories of their pet tortoises with us.
Michelle Rutowski still lives in Milwaukee but is brand manager of 93.1 WXRT-FM in Chicago. Her tortoise Shaft got his name because “when he was a baby, the Shaft movie (2000 version) had just come out, and every time he heard the theme song, he would stick his neck all the way out and almost bob his head to the music.”
A pet shared by Rutowski’s husband and his college roommates, Shaft had been with them for about 27 years. Rutowski says her mom treats Shaft like a grandchild, and she says there are some special things to consider.
“It’s really easy for these guys to be vitamin deficient,” Rutowski says, so they make sure Shaft has a mix of fruits and vegetables and protein like mealworms.
Nathan Fakler, owner and brewer at Faklandia Brewing, has a pet tortoise, a Russian tortoise he’s named Czar Tortellini Gorbachev. Faklandia’s theme is a fantasy world populated by reptile characters, so a pet tortoise makes sense for Fakler. He also says a balanced diet is important, along with adequate space and climate, “we have hot days and cold days, so you have to make adjustments daily.”
Zak Mazur works for a local real estate investment company and has an ornate box turtle he named Jonathan, named from a friend going through a tough time that he adopted the pet from. Mazur was charmed by the animal (“He’s SOOOOOO cute,” he tells us.”) but is unsure how old he might be. That’s actually pretty common.
“We can tell when they’ve reached maturity, but it’s hard to tell their exact age,” Stewart says. That’s something that also should be considered with research. He says some people might not realize that the cute little Solcada tortoise you see at a pet store can grow to be 150 pounds and live over 70 years. “Tortoises are a long-term pet.”
Suzanne Jurva, agrees that the lifespan is an important consideration. Her pet, Tortie, has been with her family for 24 years. She says tortoises are “emotional creatures,” and that Tortie has shared in the mourning of his warm-blooded family member, Dodger, a doxie who passed away this summer at age 16.
“We’ve had moments sitting in the yard together, mourning his loss,” Jurva says. Her advice to someone looking at a tortoise for a pet – “take good care of yourself because you will need to take care of your tortoise for a long time.”
