Thanks to local firefighters, a 150-pound runaway tortoise named "Mr. T" is back with his San Diego family. The pet tortoise, missing for over a month, was unexpectedly found by Cal Fire San Diego crews during routine fire prevention work. FOX5 San Diego reported the rescue story after Cal Fire shared details of the heartwarming reunion on social media.
According to a post on Cal Fire San Diego's Instagram, Fuels Crew Equipment Operator Cameron Will likely carried Mr. T to Dozer Tender 3344. Heavy Fire Equipment Operator Gary Will drove the tortoise to the firehouse. The family had posted flyers to find their long-lost reptilian family member, which ultimately helped the crew locate Mr. T's home.
Upon being discovered near the Hollenbeck Canyon Wildlife Area, it wasn't too hard to spot the tortoise, given his impressive size. Cal Fire’s intervention led to joyous scenes, as Mr. T was a 20-year family fixture, originally acquired when he was small enough to fit in a hand. "We are so grateful for the opportunity to reunite him with his family after his slow paced adventure!" Cal Fire said in their Instagram post. The story follows a precedent; Cal Fire is no stranger to tortoise tales, having performed similar rescues in recent years, including saving a 95-pound tortoise dubbed "Highway Pete" in 2020 after an injury near Highway 49.
The crew's experience with tortoise rescue operations again seemed to have paid off. "Mr. T’s owners were thrilled to see him again as they have owned him for about 20 years, since the size of a hand," Cal Fire told eager followers on Instagram.
