The Turtle Lady

Toronto’s transit may leave a lot to be desired for the average commuter, but for a turtle, it’s a magical wonderland of new sights and sounds.

She had a great time and we met some new friends along the way. The Tips & Tricks at the bottom of this post were super helpful and allowed us to make the most of our journey. Safe to say, I’ll be bringing Turkey on the subway again in the future.

How to travel on transit with your turtle

Travelling with a turtle is not much different than travelling with a fuzzy friend like a cat or small dog.

You will need specific items to help you on your journey and as someone who doesn’t want to carry a pet-crate for over an hour, I’ve modified it to be a little more ergonomic.

Here are a few things you’ll need to get started:

This is our set-up when we travel on inner-city transit systems. If you’re going to a different city, please do not use this set-up. This is for inner-city travelling only.

Here’s how you set it up for travelling:

• Place the towel on the bottom of the carrier with a fuzzy fleece on the top of it. If it’s too much fabric, then just the towel.
• Pack an additional fleece for carrying your turtle around in if that’s something you’re interested in. The last thing you want is to hold your turtle in a blanket that is wet with turtle water.
• Take the bag off of your grocery/shopping cart and place your pet carrier on the base of your grocery cart.
• Use bungee cords to secure the pet carrier. Make sure to have one going vertically and horizontally for extra security.
• Finally, your turtle is ready to go into the carrier.
• Depending on where you’re taking your turtle, an extra towel over top of the carrier for blocking out sounds and smells may needed.

Some things to consider when travelling with your turtle

Where are you going? If the trip is too long or too intense, it may be a better idea to secure a vehicle to travel in.

What are you bringing? Your turtle should always be your primary focus when you’re travelling. If you’re bringing other stuff with you, please consider travelling with an additional person so you can focus on caring for your turtle during what can potentially be a very scary experience for them.

Make sure your set-up is in good working order. Avoid towels and blankets with holes or loops that can catch your turtle’s nails on them. Make sure your grocery cart is designed to hold the weight of the carrier and the wheels are on properly (they like to shimmy off sometimes).

Tips & Tricks

• Let your turtle fully dry before putting them into their carrier
• Speak to your turtle throughout the trip – the sound of your voice will be familiar and soothing to them
• If it’s safe, consider handling them on the way. Do not do this on busses or streetcars, that is not a safe environment for them to be handled in
• Check in with your turtle frequently to make sure they haven’t flipped themselves over
• Sing songs that may be familiar to them
• Do not place toys or food in the carrier with your turtle. This may lead to injuries
• Don’t be afraid to ask for help from bus drivers and other transit employees. I always ask for the ramp to be deployed on busses so that Turkey can have a safer transition to and from the vehicle