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Escaped tortoise returns home

Butch the tortoise, who gets around, is back home in Cupertino, California. The 150-year-old reptile turned up on Monday morning in the front garden of his home, following a mysterious six-week disappearance that left his owners, Penny and Chuck Carle, shell-shocked.

But Butch appeared healthy and happy, and ready to begin his winter hibernation. According to the San Francisco Chronicle, who reported on the story, Butch is “20 inches long and looks like a rock.”

The Carles suspect that someone snatched Butch from the yard and then returned him when the reptile began growing lethargic, as tortoises do as winter approaches.

His owners learned their lesson, and plan to keep a closer watch on Butch from now on. Until Butch wakes up in March, he will be residing in a large box next to the washing machine, indoors and under lock and key to prevent further tortoise-nappings.

This was posted in Bdaily's Members' News section by Ruth Mitchell .