At the Big Small Tortoise Rescue and Sanctuary in Ames, two residents are just getting started. They could live 80-100 years. Writer: Dan Ray Photographer: Jeremy Taylor Every morning, Kim Vanous starts her day by carrying a 100-pound tortoise from his pen inside her greenhouse to his outdoor enclo sure. Biggie, a sulcata (or African spurred) tortoise, is the largest resident at the Big Small Tortoise Rescue and Sanctuary in Ames. African spurred tortoises are among the biggest tortoises in the world. Vanous founded the nonprofit in 2017 after she found Dozer, another sulcata, in an ad on Craigslist. Dozer hadn’t been well cared for and suffered from metabolic bone disease and severe pyramiding, a deformity characterized by deep grooves in the shell that’s often caused by poor living conditions. “Some people ask me what the joy is in keeping a tortoise,” Vanous said, noting the animals don’t seem to recognize her or know their own names. “They need a home with a naturalistic environment, and that’s where I feel like I can contribute. It’s rewarding to see them thrive.” Most tortoises at the sanctuary were surrendered from previous owners who could no longer take care of them and who pay a monthly donation that covers food and shelter. Instead of paying online, one woman pays in person so she can visit her tortoise every month. Since tortoises live between 80 to 100 years on average, aging owners often need to find new homes for their lifelong pets. People have come to Big Small from as far as Michigan, New Hampshire, New Mexico and Idaho to rehome their tortoises. One resident of Vanous’ sanctuary came from a family that originally bought the animal for just $1 in 1964. Kim Vanous Vanous started the sanctuary in her home and didn’t think it would turn into anything major. She figured there couldn’t be very many tortoises in Iowa, but the sanctuary caught on. “It grew really fast,” she said. “There clearly was a need for it.” Today, Big Small houses around 80 tortoises — and, yes, Vanous carries all of them outside every morning to bask in the sun and inside every night to protect them from predators. (Unlike Biggie, the smaller ones fit in a wagon.) Her evening routine starts after sunset and often continues past midnight as she brings the tortoises inside, cleans their living quarters and spends time with the domesticated birds she also shelters. In the morning, she returns for another shift before her day job as a molecular biologist at Iowa State University’s College of Veterinary Medicine. During her lunch breaks, she returns to the tortoises to feed them. All in all, she logs about 50 hours at the sanctuary every week. The tortoises enjoy fresh fruits and veggies. Because of the time commitment and the number of tortoises she’s housing, she’s looking for volunteers and hopes to move the operation to a new facility either at or near her home in Boone. She also wants to find new homes for the un-sponsored tortoises to make room for newcomers, but she’s always cautious. Since she’s heard so many horror stories, she gets nervous that she might inadvertently send one into a bad situation. For that reason, the adoption form is lengthy, and Vanous talks to each potential adopter to make sure they’re willing to learn how to properly care for a tortoise. “I like the adoption process to be interactive because it builds communication. So then if they have struggles or questions along the way, they reach out to me and ask,” she said. “People keep in touch and send me photos of the tortoise living its best life. Those are the stories where I’m like, ‘OK, I chose the right person.’ That makes me feel so good.” Want to adopt a tortoise? Tortoises aren’t native to Iowa, so it takes some preparation to make your home suitable for one. Here’s what you’ll need: A large outdoor space for your tortoise to roam. The sun provides tortoises necessary nutrients, so time outside is important. They also need shade to stay cool. An indoor wooden box for your tortoise to live in during the winter and possibly at night. Iowa winters are too cold for tortoises to survive. Even during the warmer months, it’s a good idea to bring your tortoise inside and away from nocturnal predators. For a foot-long tortoise, its box should be at least 8 x 4 feet. A careful eye to avert accidents. If your tortoise accidentally flips onto its backs on a hot summer day, it could overheat and die. This usually becomes a problem when multiple tortoises climb on top of each other. It’s a good idea to check on tortoises every few hours to make sure they’re OK. For details on adopting a tortoise or volunteering at Big Small, email [email protected]. Contributing writer Dan Ray is a musician and real estate agent who’s covered music, arts and culture for Seattle Mag and Little Village. Contributing photographer Jeremy Taylor is also a musician and has a passion for specialty coffee. ...read more read less