I'm a Wildlife Warrior!

Just as I was sitting down to ponder what topic I should post on tonight, I was alerted to the fact that an unexpected visitor was coming up the driveway.
Crikey! A Florida Box Turtle.....what a beauty! Back when I was a little boy in Virginia, the biggest thrill for my brothers and I was when we'd discover a turtle in our backyard. We'd get a box, put some water and lettuce in it and then proceed to stare at this turtle for hours, before reluctantly sending him on his way. I won't lie to you and say that nostalgic twinge of keeping him overnight didn't hit me.
Instead, I channeled my inner Steve Irwin (God rest his soul) and jumped into action. I snapped a few photos, gave him a tour of the place, and then decided that a residential area with the high traffic and countless neighborhood pets would be no place to safely release Mr. Turtle Toothless the Turtle.
It then struck me...the best place to take Mr. Turtle Toothless the Turtle to...the scene of where I had rescued ANOTHER turtle. Yes, that's right...a turtle story inside a turtle story. On the little winding backroad to the local library there is a small pond on one side of the road, a turtle crossing sign, and a wooded area on the other side where turtles apparently have a thriving habitat. The first time I drove back there, I saw that sign, started to think "is such a sign necessary", and then promptly rammed on my brakes when I realized there was a turtle in the road. I hopped out of my car, gave the other car behind me the "It's OK I'm saving a turtle" sign, and then helped it across the road.
So that's what I just got back from.....returning Mr. Turtle Toothless the Turtle to a place so population dense in turtles that it requires a special crossing sign.

Either I have now rescued 2 turtles.....or this was the same turtle come to pay his respects for saving his life a year or so ago. No matter which way you slice it, I'm kind of a hero in the local turtle community. Maybe one day a turtle will save my life.

Man, this world is beautiful. Thank you, God.


(UPDATE 4/11: After talking on the phone with my little 5 year old second-cousin Natalie about the turtle, it was decided that he needed a name. She initially drew a blank as to what to name him. When I suggested a name starting with the letter "T", she said "How 'bout Toothless?" How can you argue with that? So I'm going back and correcting his name in my post and henceforth he'll be know as Toothless the Turtle.)