Pet tortoise missing since October found in Eagan, reunited with owner

EAGAN, Minn. (KMSP) - A pet tortoise that had been missing from Mendota Heights, Minnesota since October was reunited with its owner Wednesday morning. 

The Russian tortoise named “Jane” escaped from her yard last October and made her way to Eagan. A concerned resident spotted Jane on the 1800 block of Bear Path Trail on Tuesday and called police, insisting the tortoise was not native to Minnesota, according to Eagan Police Department spokesperson Aaron Machtemes. 

An officer responded and determined the tortoise was not native to Minnesota and was likely someone’s pet. They took Jane back to the station and shared photos of her on social media in hopes of finding her owner. 

The owner saw the Facebook post on Wednesday morning and was able to prove to police that the tortoise was his. 

Jane is now on her way home to be reunited with the rest of her family, a pair of tortoises named “Jack and Jill.”