Sulcata tortoises love to dig and burrow. It’s not uncommon for an adult sulcata to have a burrow as large as 25 feet deep and 2-3 feet wide. When you choose to bring home a baby sulcata tortoise to raise, you should be prepared to have large burrows in your backyard one day.
These burrows can cause property damage, and it can be worrisome to have your tortoise at the bottom of the burrow during flood-like weather.
In order to protect your property and keep your sulcata tortoise safe, make a burrow for an adult sulcata. Overtime, you can train your tortoise to use the burrow instead of digging his own. And, in most cases, tortoises burrow to acclimate their body temperatures… If it’s too cold outside, provide a heated house. If it’s too hot outside, provide an area to cool off.
You can get inventive when making a burrow for a sulcata, but the burrow doesn’t have to be elaborate. It just needs to be more enticing than digging a 25-foot hole.
Trash Can Tortoise Burrow
Many keepers of burrowing tortoises, will make a trash can burrow. Use a large trash can in half. Sit the can on level ground on slightly dug in. Add soil, rocks and other materials around the outside to reduce erosion. Add about 6-8-inches of dirt on top.
Easy Tortoise Burrow
Using the top half of a dog crate, follow the steps above for the trash can burrow. The only difference is is that you’re using a plastic crate and not a metal trash can.
Cinder Block Tortoise Burrow
This easy man-made tortoise burrow, calls for cinder blocks, wood and dirt. Dig a hole large enough for your tortoise to get in and out of and feel secure while inside. You don’t want him cramped, either. Bury cinder blocks around the perimeter of the hole, stopping the tortoise from digging further. Build up with more cinder blocks. Place a piece of wood or a topper of some sort on top of the cinder blocks for a roof. Cover with dirt for insulation.
