BY EMILY MIBACH
Daily Post Staff Writer
A turtle that might have been run over by a car is recuperating in Burlingame at the Peninsula Humane Society, a spokeswoman said yesterday (Jan. 26).
The female turtle was found on Jan. 16 behind the Redwood City Target at 2485 El Camino Real with a three-inch crack in its shell, said Peninsula Humane Society spokeswoman Buffy Martin Tarbox.
Cracks in turtles’ shells can often be fatal because the shell protects the turtles’ organs and leaves them vulnerable to infections. Turtles cannot live without their shells, as the top part acts as the turtle’s spine and is slow to recuperate.
The turtle is being treated by the humane society with daily pain medicine, antibiotics to stave off infection and soaking in clean water every other day to clean her wounds, Tarbox said.
“Shell cracks on turtles are oftentimes fatal, but with treatment the shell can be restored. However, she does have a long road of recovery ahead of her,” Tarbox said.
Tarbox said she expects the turtle to stay under the Humane Society’s care until fully healed, which could take three to six months. The turtle then will be released “back into the wild to a habitat more suitable for her than a parking lot,” Tarbox said.
