I found a tortoise today wandering the streets of Mattoon, IL. I am keeping my description simple so that the owner will have to describe to claim him/her. I am have left messages with our local shelter, all vet clinics, and craigslist. I will email our newspaper today and will probably post flyers in is neighborhood. Any other ways to find his owner? I highly doubt that he would be chipped, but I might have him scanned tomorrow.

You might want to post on Craigslist in your area. They have a lost and found. Today while I was looking at Craigslist someone posted they lost their turtle.

Edited: Sorry I didn't see that in your post.
Are you at all by Rockford? Someone posted missing a turtle.....

Nope, we're about 4 hrs from there! I doubt he walked that far hehehehe!!

LOL, sorry, that's kinda funny

Hope this guy finds his home soon!!

lol, I had to laugh at that comment too, 4 hours would be a long walk for a tortoise!

I hope you can find his owners, I wouldn't think they would be too far away... Good luck!

Yeah I can't imagine that he would have gone far so I will post flyers around where he was found - but for a very big guy, he's faster than you would think . We're in a small town so someone will know someone that owns this guys since I doubt many people have one around here. Luckily I have a tortoise of my own, a different and much smaller species, so he'll get good care until I find his home. Poor guy is sleeping right now, probably exhausted from his ordeal.

don't forget petfinders

Once you have found his owners I'd love to see pics of the big guy (and your smaller one, too)!

His owners called me this morning at about 9am. They had called our shelter and the shelter gave them my number. His name was Franklin (like the kids cartoon turtle). He had a very sad little girl and boy waiting for him. He had busted out of his outdoor pen and walked about 3 blocks from home. I was going to hang flyers in his neighborhood where he was found, but they found me first. It all worked out and I was glad that I could help! I'll try to post pics as soon as I figure it out!

Here are some pics of the big guy! There's a pic or me and him, him next to my little tortoise - Stewart, and a pic of him next to a volleyball for a size comparison!

Kristin you're an angel in disguise; I'm sure the family was very happy you found him and took good care of him. He's quite a big guy alright.

One of the pet shops we have around here has 3 tortoise's and I was amazed at how fast they can go.

Glad there was a happy ending......

WOW! he IS a big guy! The only thing I've ever seen that big (besides on tv) is snappers, which are all over in my area.
Thanks for the pics-- and your little stewie looks so tiny next to the "runaway"

Is Franklin the species of tortoise that get soooo big that are in the zoos. Id be afraid he would bite. but if he is a kids pet then maybe not.

So glad to read that there is another happy ending to a story. Im glad that the turtle found his owners thanks to you!!

Yay! That's great that you were able to find his owners, good job! He is huge compared to little Stewart! Fantastic pictures!

They can get really big, averaging around 80-100# when full grown. I think the record is one that weighed about 200#. They are extremely docile and are strict grasses/veggie eaters. I would be more worried about being bowled over by one than bit.