'Rocky's Home!' 100-Lb. Pet Tortoise Survives L.A. Wildfires and Reunites with His Family

Mar. 15, 2025

Rocky, a 100-pound tortoise, reuniting with his family.Photo:San Dimas Sheriff’s Station/Instagram

San Dimas Sheriff’s Station/Instagram

Rocky’s home!

The 100-pound tortoise, named Rocky, was found in a hole in the family’s backyard, the sheriff’s office said. The family’s home was destroyed in the Eaton fire,ABC News reported.

Rocky is not the first tortoise to reunite with their family after surviving the L.A. fires. A Pasadena family forced to evacuate their home on Jan. 7 recently reunited with their pet. When the family evacuated, a Pasadena Humane officer helped them move their 28-year-old, 200-pound tortoise, Huckleberry, out of the house.

Rocky the tortoise.San Dimas Sheriff’s Station/Instagram

Never miss a story — sign up forPEOPLE’s free daily newsletterto stay up-to-date on the best of what PEOPLE has to offer​​, from celebrity news to compelling human interest stories.

Unable to find a place to evacuate with Huckleberry, the family opted to keep the tortoise at Pasadena Humane until they could adequately care for him again. The shelter announced in aJan. 17 Instagram videothat the tortoise reunited with his family after his stay there. Huckleberry is in good company; the shelterhas temporarily cared for hundreds of pets since the wildfires started, helping to keep the animals and their owners safe.

Pasadena Humane’s video announcing Huckleberry’s return to his family shows the reptile riding a flat cart and being lifted into the back of a car.

“We were happy to give this tortoise a safe place to stay,” Pasadena Humane wrote on the video. “And even happier to see him go home!”

source: people.com