Use the contact box on the right to report lost and found box turtles or tortoises in San Diego county, or to relinquish a box turtle or tortoise that you can no longer care for. Fill it in and click on "Send Now."
(For water turtles, such as Red-Eared Sliders, please use "Water Turtle Rescue" link below.)
We are an all-volunteer Society and process hundreds of rescues each month, so please allow some time for a rescue team member in your area to respond.
When you are contacted, our volunteer may ask that you download this relinquishment form, and have it completed and signed for them. Thank you.
Rescue Services
Local lost and unwanted water turtles number in the tens of thousands.
Please click on this "Water Turtle Rescue" button to get information on our water turtle rescue efforts, and how we might help you.
More about SDTTS: the history, the mission, the membership, our sponsors, and our leadership team.
With SDTTS, you choose your own level of involvement. Just be a member and support our cause, or participate: picking up and delivering rescued animals, providing foster care, helping with fund-raisers, or staffing an SDTTS event or monthly meeting...
"The VOICE of The TURTLE" (VOTT)
You can receive this colorful and informative, quarterly publication by mail if you are a Society member. But everyone is free to download a copy here...
Typical "dog and cat" veterinarians do not always have the experience and
training to diagnose and treat reptiles. For a list of local veterinarians that
SDTTS calls on to care for the many turtles and tortoises we rescue...
There really is some questionable information on the internet, but we have found a number of sites that are excellent turtle and tortoise resources...
The word turtle is an inclusive word that refers to all species of water turtle, sea turtle, box turtle, terrapin and tortoise. Scientists group all turtles together in the "order" known as TESTUDINES. This order includes about a dozen living "families" of turtle.
The word tortoise refers to a particular type of turtle that is well adapted to life on land. Tortoises are a specialized subgroup of the order TESTUDINES that are known as the Testudinidae. According to Dr. Kristin Berry, the following distinction is made between the terms turtle and tortoise: "In common usage in the United States, a tortoise is a land dwelling turtle with high domed shell and columnar, elephant-shaped hind legs. Tortoises go to water only to drink or bathe. In contrast, the word turtle is used for other turtles: pond turtles, river turtles, box turtles, musk turtles, sea turtles, etc. that actually dwell in or near water to survive."
The word terrapin is sometimes used for turtles that are semi-aquatic and live near brackish waters or swampy regions. They are sort of a mix between a turtle and tortoise, as they spend most of their time divided between water and land.
So, while terrapins and tortoises form unique subgroups that can be distinguished from other groups of turtle, they are ALL "turtles" nonetheless.
Turtle, Tortoise, or Terrapin?
A turtle’s shell is made up of about 50-60 bones covered in interlocking plates called “scutes” that form its exoskeleton. The top part of the shell is called the “carapace”, while underside half of the shell is called the “plastron”. The two parts are connected by a boney bridge.
Contrary to how cartoons sometimes depict turtles, they cannot detach from their shell or crawl out.
Although it may seem like the hard shells are the ultimate protective shield, it should be noted that a turtle’s shell has nerves embedded in it and so they are receptive to feeling through their shells. For example, they feel pressure of weight on their shells and if they injure their shell, they will feel the pain.