Last summer (2010), I was invited to visit a friend of many decades in northern Iowa. He had started a Tortoise Reserve Sanctioned Sanctuary, for turtles and tortoises. It was the first Turtle and Tortoise Sanctuary in Iowa, called Testudo International. Lynn De Vries is the Director.

 

Lynn is also affiliated with The Tortoise Reserve, operated by David Lee. I took a trip up to see Lynn and was amazed at what he had accomplished, over the years. The Sanctuary was designed in the beginning primarily for Russian, Hermann’s, and Ibera Greek Tortoises, commonly referred to as Mediterranean Tortoises. He had other terrestrial turtles and tortoises, as well.

 

 

From 1971 through 1987, I had been working with all available species of lizards, from around the world. Nearly 100% were wild-caught, and no books had even been written on how to care for any reptile or amphibian. More information about my work with lizards, snakes, turtles, tortoises, and amphibians, can be read on my “About the Owner” page of this website.

 

In 1997, I woke up one morning with what would turn out to be a rare neurological disorder, called Dystonia. It is a neurological muscle movement disorder. For more than 12 years now, I have been fighting this disorder, and its many changing symptoms.

 

Lynn used to come to my home to see the many lizards I was studying. As we walked around his Sanctuary and talked, it was obvious that we had a lot in common. He asked me if I would be interested in being a branch of Testudo International. At first, I didn’t know what to say. I had not worked with a single reptile, since 1995. For the past three years, I had purchased some various U.S. tree frogs. I was just getting back on my feet, again.   My illness is not cureable, so I do what I can each day. 

 

During the 1980s, I did obtain a few box turtles, as well as rare aquatic turtles, and some species of tortoises. But, my heart was still in the direction of lizards. So, I would often find myself trading turtles and other reptiles, for a new lizard that just became available.

 

I went on the internet to see what other Sanctuaries were doing, as goals. It was obvious that each Sanctuary was unique, in different ways. I knew I wanted to work with box turtles, again. I also wanted to work with a few other terrestrial turtle and tortoise species, as well.

  

With Lynn’s encouragement, I agreed to become the Warren County Affiliate of Testudo International. Just prior to that time,       I had the opportunity to buy a few Eastern and Three-toed Box Turtles. I really enjoy working with these turtles, again.

 

Over the years, I have traveled around the U.S., looking for rare reptiles and amphibians. I got to see numerous terrestrial turtles and a few U.S. tortoises, in their natural habitat.

 

I have always been interested in nature photography, as well. I have been to nearly every zoo with a reptile and amphibian collection, and photographed their exhibits and species. I have included these turtles and tortoises, in my photo gallery.

 

Lynn also encouraged me to start my own Sanctuary. I am more suited and defined by space to work with box turtles, and       a few small to medium-sized tortoises. I really needed a good challenge to help offset my on-going illness. I knew I would enjoy working with terrestrial turtles and tortoises again, but in a different way, this time.

 

While I had already thought about calling my Sanctuary “Sandbox Sanctuary”, my niece came up with the same name, as well. So, I decided the name of my Sanctuary would be called Sandbox Sanctuary for Terrestrial Turtles and Tortoises.

 

My initial goal was to make everything official, and legal. I am filing for full 501(C)3 Non-profit status with the IRS, as well as the State of Iowa. These statuses are pending at this time.

 

I plan to primarily work with box turtles of the United States, and a few species of tortoises. I feel these species can be worked with successfully in Iowa’s changing seasons, both outdoors as well as indoors.

 

Several of the box turtles I have received were seriously dehydrated, and malnourished. Some Eastern Box Turtles had neck abscesses, respiratory illnesses, as well as puss-filled, closed eyes. My extensive experiences with lizards, taught me how to deal with most of these health problems. I am also blessed with numerous veterinarians in the area who have worked with reptiles as well, for many years. All turtles are healthy, now.

 

I plan to make my Sanctuary a learning and research center for not only myself, but interested students of various ages. I feel it is important to work with all of the tortoises being sold in pet stores, including Russian and Red-foot Tortoises. Sooner or later, some of these tortoises will need a good home to finish out their lives, hopefully with me.

 

My vast experiences with reptiles and what I have learned, will help me be more successful with the turtles and tortoises that need my rescue help. Some will be used for education and research purposes, as well.

 

I will be captive breeding most species, excluding Ornate Box Turtles. They are a Threatened Species, in Iowa.

 

I am totally eliminating direct money for my Sanctuary. Even as a 501(C)3 Non-profit Sanctuary, I will not solicit money. I will not be selling any offspring, as well. I already have several food suppliers (sponsors) to help me feed the growing number of turtles and tortoises, I receive. Those sponsors are listed on a separate page of my website.

 

I am willing to accept donated food items. Families and kids can adopt a turtle or tortoise, and help me feed it, that way. The rest of what is needed will be personally financed.

 

I will consider trading any surplus to obtain species of interest with other recognized sanctuaries, around the world. A Wanted and Surplus List is on a separate website page. Right now, it is just Wanted Species, especially Russian and Red-foot Tortoises.  I have also asked U.S. Fish & Wildlife Services to consider my Sanctuary for placement of any Chelonians, needing a good home. I am looking for some Florida and Gulf Coast Box Turtles.

 

Outdoor enclosures will be completed, this spring. I plan to landscape our property over the next two years, to keep the species separate. I am including a butterfly garden, as well.

 

I know I have made the right decision because I am once again very excited about the opportunities, working with terrestrial turtles and tortoises. I love to learn, and I hope I can instill that same passion I have on others who want to be involved educationally, as well.

 

It is unfortunate that sanctuaries are needed at all. I ask those people who care and give educational programs, to tell listeners to enjoy the many unique and fascinating reptiles and amphibians they cross paths with, but don’t kill or remove them from the wild. What starts out as an innocent purchase or capture, too often turns into trouble at a later date.

 

We have very strict laws in Iowa, as well as the U.S., and other countries. I have included Iowa’s Laws on native terrestrial turtles, under the Iowa DNR logo, as well as their direct home page link.

  

I am prepared to take in terrestrial turtles and tortoises that need a good home. At this time, I can not accept any more Ornate Box Turtles (Threatened Species), or Wood Turtles (Endangered Species). Both are native to Iowa. I do hope to get approval to work with Wood Turtles, some day. I do have a few approved Ornate Box Turtles for educational programs, and displays.

 

I have an Iowa Educational Projects Permit and Scientific Collecting Permit, to possess approved species of reptiles and amphibians, for educational usage. For decades, I have done volunteer and independent field research work, in several nearby counties.

 

One of my objectives is to obtain other species of box turtles I don’t currently possess. I will not be working with the rare and Federally-protected U.S. tortoises.

 

I am hoping other Sanctuaries will help me obtain some different species I would like to work with, at my Sanctuary. If Sanctuary owners have a surplus of a species, please contact me. The turtles and tortoises I accept will never be sold. I will honor all requests or restrictions that come with  turtle and tortoise donations.

 

I am not interested in working with aquatic turtles, native or exotic. I do keep a few turtles for my educational programs, which are always free.