Badger~

Meet our newest family member...

This is Badger.

He is a desert tortoise,

and the coolest pet we have ever owned!

He was a gift from some friends and we love him.

They had two tortoises, and Badger was the smaller of the two.

(He is about 15 inches around.)

Well, apparently when you get two male tortoises together they fight.

Badger is said to have nine lives like a cat because he has lost many a fight and lived to tell about it.

He has been flipped over on his back and stuck there for many long

hours in the HOT desert sun, until his owners discovered

and rescued him.

He has even had mouth to mouth resuscitation...

(yes really),

after nearly drowning in our friends swimming pool.

(On more than one occasion.)

All because of tortoise testosterone.

Who knew??

Anyhoo... because they too love Badger, it became too stressful for

them to always be worried that he was a casualty

of yet another tortoise war, and so they did what they felt was best

for him, and found him a new home.

We welcomed him with open arms!!

And though he is really not cuddly, I am amazed at just

how cute he is.

It is soo fun to watch him move around and eat.

Our youngest princess pets him and talks to him nearly every day.

" I wuv you Badga!"

It's very tender,... and then she turns to me and says...

"mommy,...Badga wuves me too."

Of course he does.....

Thank You to the Prestons for our newly adoptive family member.

Who knew one could feel such affection for a tortoise??!!