Desert tortoise trying to be a turtle. We have been taking care of this saved tortoise for a number of years. Previous handlers for some unknown reason painted its carapace (shell) green. Yes, you need to have a special permit to be able to care for one.
When we were kids in MI, my brother had a little turtle he’d let loose in the garden. He painted his shell red with nail polish to identify him.
Every spring for years, his little turtle would resurface after a brutal MI winter. Guess he hibernated.
Tough little guy.
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@LnzyHou why you should not be painting turtle/tortoise shells: https://www.usatoday.com/story/news/nation-now/2016/08/12/wildlife-officials-seriously-stop-painting-turtle-shells/88617598/
@Victor
This was 60+ yrs ago. My brother just turned 70.
Of course you shouldn’t paint turtle shells. But clearly nail polish had no effect on my brother’s hibernating turtle. He lived for many years in our garden.