In Brenda Bush’s backyard, a sulcata tortoise named Otis roams his muddy enclosure after a rainy night. At just 11 years old, he’s already 60 pounds—and will keep growing over his 100-year lifespan.

Otis isn’t just Bush’s pet—he was also the first permanent resident of the Central Texas Tortoise Rescue’s Pflugerville facility, which operates out of Bush’s home.

The history

Bush, a former special education teacher, started volunteering with the rescue five years ago. Just two years after becoming founder Krista McDermid’s first foster home, Bush took over the non-profit organization, which will celebrate its 10-year anniversary this year.

Today, Bush cares for upwards of 20 animals with a network of enclosures on her property. Along with two other facilities in Bertram and Bandera, CTTR has 12 foster homes around Texas. CTTR receives box turtles and tortoises from across the U.S.—over 15 states to date—as one of the few rescues in the region able to handle such volume.


“In the northern states, there's very few tortoise and turtle rescues,” Bush said. “And in the south, they're few and far between.”
Bush has 20 enclosures on her property, caring for permanent residents and animals up for adoption. (Gracie Warhurst/Community Impact)Caption


The impact

Bush takes care of most of the rehabilitation for the animals that come in with health issues like metabolic bone disease and shell deformities that often occur from improper care. In these cases, the biggest issue is education, Bush said. Many owners who adopt tortoises or box turtles don’t realize how long they live, how large they get or what they need to thrive.

CTTR also takes in healthy animals whose owners have passed away or can no longer care for them. “It’s just somebody else’s turn,’” Bush said.
Pebbles, a 9-month-old sulcata, will grow to be as big as Otis. (Gracie Warhurst/Community Impact)


What’s next

Soon, the rescue will take on a partnership with the Texas Parks & Wildlife department and Texas A&M to help temporarily house wild Texas tortoises confiscated from illegal captivity. Once healthy, they’ll be released back into the wild.

“This August they'll start a small group, and then next spring it's going to be this huge statewide push,” Bush said.

Get involved


CTTR takes monetary and supply donations, but Bush said right now, the biggest need is more adopters.

To adopt, applicants need to have a proper enclosure and be able to answer questions about feeding and care. Adoption fees range from $75 to $150, depending on the species, and go toward food, vet care and materials.

CTTR also offers free tours of its Pflugerville facility to help educate the public about tortoises. Visitors can book an open time slot online to see the enclosures, ask questions and interact with the animals.

“Lots of times people will come to learn how to build an enclosure, which we love,” Bush said. “We're like, ‘yes, please come and see how to do this.’ It's not that hard, you know?”