If you startle or stress out a tortoise, it’s more likely to release its bladder and bowels all over you when you pick it up. Beyond the mess that tortoise pee and poop makes, this release can cause dangerous dehydration in wild tortoises in particular.
Tortoises can spread parasites, intestinal worms, and communicable illnesses that may affect you or any other tortoises you handle. Always clean your hands thoroughly before and after handling a tortoise, and in between handling multiple tortoises.
This is the safest position for your hands and body, but don’t assume that you’re 100% safe! An agitated tortoise may be able to smack your hand or leg with one of its surprisingly powerful limbs. Some tortoises can even crane their necks far enough back to bite your hand in this position.
The only legitimate reason to move a wild tortoise is if it’s in imminent danger—for instance, if it has wandered onto the road. In this case, carry it no more than 50 ft (15 m) in the direction it was already pointed and put it back down.
If it’s a pet tortoise, go ahead and call it by name and speak to it calmly: “Okay, Bennie, now I’m going to pick you up just for a few seconds. ” There’s no denying it—baby tortoises are super cute! Even so, resist the urge to pick one up just because you want to cuddle it. It’s safer and healthier if you simply enjoy watching the baby tortoise and only pick it up when necessary.
Wash your hands with soap and water or thoroughly clean them with hand sanitizer both before and after handling any baby tortoise. For added protection, put on a pair of disposable gloves. If you’re handling more than a single tortoise, wash your hands and change gloves in between. Baby tortoise shells are not as strong as adult shells. Be as gentle as possible while maintaining control.
Yes, the baby tortoise may pee or poop on your hand. Just wash up well afterward! Keep the tortoise upright—shell side up—at all times. Flip the tortoise over to look at its underside only in an emergency.
If your pet baby tortoise ever falls more than a few inches/centimeters, or if you see any evidence of injury or shell damage, contact your vet. Contact a wildlife conservation officer if it’s a wild baby tortoise.
If the baby tortoise isn’t interested in walking off of your hand, gently grip the shell again, then lift ever so slightly just so that you can pull out your flattened hand from underneath. Let go with your other hand and allow the baby to go on its way.
If a tortoise is crossing a road with little to no traffic, for example, it’s best to leave it alone. If it’s a busy road, move it just to the other side of the road—no more than 50 ft (15 m) whenever possible—in the direction it was headed. If you suspect a problem that isn’t immediate, contact a wildlife commissioner, park ranger, conservation officer, or similar trained professional.
Emptying its bladder or bowels. Withdrawing completely into its shell. Kicking and scratching. Biting or attempting to bite.
Adult tortoise shells are tough, but they’re not impenetrable. Shells can be damaged, and any damage can be a serious problem. The undersides of tortoises are very vulnerable. Even a relatively short fall can prove fatal.
Kids are also less likely to wash their hands well and keep them clean before and after handling a tortoise. This increases the likelihood of spreading illnesses from tortoise to child, child to tortoise, and tortoise to tortoise.
If the bite is painful but doesn’t break the skin, wash and dry the area, then apply an ice pack wrapped in a dishcloth. If the bite breaks the skin, wash the area with soap and water, apply pressure to stop the bleeding, apply an antibiotic ointment, and put on a bandage. Since tortoises can carry salmonella on their skin, it’s a good idea to contact your doctor for further guidance.
