Ferb the tortoise is still missing in Piedmont.
But owner Cherrie Zaidi had a call about a possible sighting not a mile from the backyard home near the Piedmont High School tennis courts where Ferb disappeared.
On Thursday, Sept. 19, a caller said a large turtle, possibly a tortoise, was seen about 6 p.m. crossing Cemetery Road near NW 164 going east to west onto Piedmont Public Works Department property.
She said she searched the area extensively but with no luck.
Ferb went missing from the Zaidi home on Wednesday morning on Aug. 21. Ferb is about the size of a basketball, owner Cherrie does not know if the 25-pound African Sulcata tortoise is a male or female, but she does believe the 4-year-old pet could still be alive.
Ferb cannot live outside if the temperature drops below 40. Even in a deep hole, the cold-blooded creature’s body would shut down with freezing temperatures in Oklahoma. The first freeze is expected about Oct. 30, Cherrie said.
Deer archery season is underway and with gun season ahead, hunters could be in fields where Ferb is living, she said.
One clue to finding Ferb could be in a trail of droppings. The tortoise droppings are very grassy, dark green, or black and similar in size to a large dog or coyote.
There is also the possibility that someone has already found Ferb and could be keeping the tortoise. There is also a market for a large tortoise, she has heard, and fears Ferb could be sold by someone.
There have been other calls about possible sightings.
Someone found a tortoise in Chandler, but it was not Ferb. Another was found in Ponca City, and even one call came from Texas. Still no Ferb.
There was a large hole found that something dug under a shed in Surrey Hills. Cherrie was going to check that out this week.
Unless Ferb, who lives on land, not underwater, got stuck at the bottom of a pond or sunk in one, or fell into a deep hole, is likely living off the plentiful Oklahoma wildflowers in the fields, along a creek or in a wooded area. Three searches for Ferb have been completed, even a thermal imager has been used.
How Ferb escaped
Cherrie recalls Ferb was a bit feisty on a warm morning Aug. 21. She was working inside when Ferb apparently found a spot under her fence in the backyard and clawed his way out. There are a lot of flowers about to bloom and plenty of native grasses that Ferb can live on.
As for predators, that would be coyotes. However, if there are plenty of rabbits and other prey around, Ferb would be down on the list of things to eat for them. But coyotes will find a way to eat turtles if they need to, Cherrie said.
Ferb is most likely to be on the move between 9:30 a.m. and noon on sunny days or about 6 p.m. before dark when looking for a place to sleep for the night.
If anyone should spot a tortoise as big as a basketball, give Cherrie a call at 405-339-1433.
There is a reward of $500 for Ferb’s safe return.
Ferb
