Turtle returns home on ranch in Pinal County after escaping across highway

PINAL COUNTY, Arizona. – An adventurous turtle returned home on Sunday after being spotted on the side of the road.

The turtle’s owner praises the driver and the quick response of Arizona DPS officers.

“Someone called the highway patrol and said a turtle was trying to cross I-10,” said Danna Cogburn, the ranch’s owner.

It is not an everyday occurrence for the owners of the Rooster Cogburn Ostrich Ranch – a turtle that manages to escape from its enclosure.

“I was surprised he got this far,” Cogburn said.

Earlier this week, during severe monsoon storms in Pinal County, the door to the turtles’ home was blown open, allowing most of the animals to escape into their fenced enclosure.

“But Stitch found the one little hole and he was the only one small enough to fit through,” Cogburn said.

Ranch officials searched for Stitch all morning when they received a call that a motorist had seen him crossing I-10. Officers brought Stitch home safely.

“They came out, found one of our employees and handed Stitch over the fence to him,” Cogburn said.

The owners say they are grateful to the driver who called to report Stitch on the road and to the police officers who helped bring him home safely.

“Thank God a Good Samaritan did the right thing and rescued him and brought him home,” Cogburn said. “We’re glad it all turned out OK and everyone had a laugh about it.”

If you would like to meet Stich in person, the ranch is open most days of the week. For more information, contact can be found here.