(To Hear The Beginning Of Blackberry's Story, Click Here)

Blackberry, also known as 'Blind Turtle' has a girlfriend now! After talking with the owner Callie, who works with a Wildlife Center where she helps to rehab injured or sick reptiles, in hopes they can be released back into their natural habitat, first learned of Myrtle (an Eastern Box Turtle, just like Blackberry) when she was left in the over-night box at the center. "She had no obvious injuries aside from the fact that she was missing one of her front legs." Callie goes on to explain more of Myrtles history:

"The injury seemed to be an old one, as it was completely healed, and we weren't sure if she may have even been born without it, or if she had been a pet that had a surgical amputation. Unfortunately since we had no idea where she came from, we were reluctant to release her, especially with her disability.

I decided to take her home and see how she functioned in my outdoor pens. She seemed to do well, although she had trouble burrowing down very far. Once it started getting cold, it became obvious that she was either unwilling or unable to dig down far enough to hibernate. One cold morning I found her sitting out on top of a pile of leaves, and she felt cold. I whisked her inside and gave her a warm soak."

Since Blackberry is currently very sensitive to being moved to any locations that are new to him, he still lives indoors where he spends a relaxed, warm winter. Someday, maybe even the upcoming summer, Callie plans to place blackberry outside into an enclosed box turtle pen, but for now he is still kept in her reptile room. Callie continues:

"Unfortunately I did not have any room left in my reptile room to overwinter her-- all of the spaces were taken with other rehab cases. After a lot of consideration, I placed her in with Blind Turtle just to see if they could cohabitate... "

And it turns out they got along heavenly. Before learning of Myrtle's back story, Callie explained to me how blackberry and myrtle were getting along together.

"I think it took Blackberry awhile to realize she was there, but Myrtle was fascinated. She followed him around for ages, and now they are always together. Every night they are nestled down in the pinestraw side by side."

"Eventually I will get a good picture of them together!" And when that day comes, she promises to share it, and I plan to post the picture of the cute couple on this page to share with you.