Its going to be a long and worrying winter

[miasmum]

as I can't find Humphrey tortoise. I have looked everywhere, raked the garden, cut back shrubs, moved pots but he seems to have vanished into thin air.

I have registered onto a tortoise forum and they seem to think he has buried himself. I was raking today to see if I could find him, but nothing.

It just seems unreal, one minute he was there and the next, gone...........

[JoM]

Oh no Shell, what a horrible worry. Why would he bury himself? Would it be to put himself into hibernation?

[Kaz]

So sorry Shell, I hope he will turn up soon (((x)))

[miasmum]

Yes Jo, its what they do if they are left to their own devices. We have never left him long enough before, we usually put him in his run until he is ready for hibernation, but this silly weather meant he was still raring to go and he was just pacing up and down the run trying to get out. So we gave in, let him out and he was sunning himself Friday and now I can't find him anywhere

[TheOstrich]

I was going to say that, MM, the temperature has certainly plunged dramatically in the last few days (well it has here anyway). Can't really blame the tortoise for starting hibernation - I am as well!

If you can't find him, I'm sure he'll be safe and sound and will turn up again in the Spring.

[debih]

Oh no, poor Humphrey.

But I'm sure he'll be fine - and raring to go again next Spring.

[Paddypix]

That's a worry Shell. I've just said on the good morning thread that I'm going into hibernation mode which was a rather insensitive thing to say but I hadn't read about Humphrey then. I'm sure he will have found a warm dry place to hide for the winter and that he'll be back out in the early spring.

[meriad]

Shell, as a matter of interest - it's meant to warm up a bit again over the next few days (well here at least). Would Humphrey tortoise come back out of hibernation for a bit if it's warm enough or is it a case of once they're hibernating then that's it?

Fingers crossed you do find him xxx

[Ally]

Oh fingers crossed wherever Humphrey is he is safe. xxx

[miasmum]

Thank you all and please don't worry Paddy

It would have to be very warm for him to come back up, warm enough for him to feel the earth warm up underground. So I'd guess about March

We will look again on Saturday