GUERNSEY – A desert tortoise may seem out of place in the semi-arid region of Wyoming, but one special tortoise has been happy to settle in the small-town community of Guernsey.
Merlin is 6 years old and started life about the size of a fifty cent piece and was part of a buy-on-get-one (BOGO) from a pet shop. Merlin is 65 pounds and can live up to 100 years – so she is a very young tortoise at six years old. Her owner has made provisions for her care for her long life, deeding Merlin to her son.
Her owner says she has a strict diet, eating romaine lettuce, dried tortoise food, apples, carrots (sparingly), watermelon and loves pumpkins. Merlins’ owner says she knows she is female by the shape of her shell.
Merlin likes to roam and has been found five blocks from her home. She has her owners phone number written on her shell in case she leaves again. Merlin is very strong, likes to dig holes and can move very heavy objects in her quest to roam. Of course she does not care for cold weather so will be indoors now.
Merlin is well cared for and loved and she likes having her shell scratched. If you see Merlin, believe your eyes: she does live right here lending her uniqueness to our town.
