Steve pops out for another visit

Smooch and I were on a walk over the weekend, and we had just left the front gate and made the turn down our road. I was be-bopping along to the music when a magnetic-like force made me turn my head to the left and look behind a tumbleweed. Sure enough, there was Turtle Steve.

I know this is going to sound all new-age and zen-like, but there's no other way to explain how it is that I can spot him amidst the grass and weeds. Something just reaches out and pulls my eyes in his direction. (Am I right, Carolynn? Kathleen? You've been there.)

I got all giddy, as I always do when Steve decides to come out and say hello. We chatted for awhile, then I decided to go back to the house to get my camera and some turtle treats. But by the time Smooch and I returned, he wasn't there. Crap.

But wait! I know what turtle tracks look like – I had seen them on vacation last year. If I looked very carefully, maybe I could see where Steve had gone.

Bingo. Look between the two white lines and you'll see Steve's footprints.

We followed the tracks into the weeds on the other side of the road, and there he was.
Hi, little buddy. Love you! Mean it!

I tried to get a group shot but this was the best I could do. (Steve is a little above and to the right of Smooch's nose.)


There was some discussion in the comments the last time I posted about Steve as to whether he was a tortoise or a turtle. I'm now 99.9% certain he is a Western Ornate Box Turtle.


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"Omnivorous, the diurnal Western Ornate Box Turtle feeds on a range of reptiles, crayfish, insects, worms, eggs, carrion, berries, and succulent plants (including prickly pear cactus pads and fruit)."

It should be noted that the Western Ornate Box Turtle does not feed on fresh spinach or black oil sunflower seeds. Oh well. I tried.

By the time Smooch and I walked our two miles and returned home,
Steve had walked about 20 feet and we saw him in our pasture.

See you next time, my friend.

When he's in the mood to be seen again, I'm confident he'll let me know.