Fate brings us together: A Turtle’s Story from the Los Angeles Wildfires to Michigan
(Maddox Lee with Cherie W. Rolfe and Anna Lee, Photos by Joe Lee, Fab. 16, 2025)
Sterling Heights, MI – The Los Angeles wildfires not only ruined houses, they also impacted small critters, including a female Chinese Box Turtle who made a five-day journey across the country to join her new family in Michigan. The original owner was in the area affected by the fires and had to move. They couldn’t take care of the turtle, so they were desperate to find her a new home and posted on the internet in hopes of finding a new home for her. Anna Lee, of Sterling Heights, saw the post and responded immediately.
“Her previous owner’s old house was near the evacuation area of the Los Angeles wildfires on January 7. The family had several children and other small animals,” Lee said. When she saw the internet post, she immediately agreed to take her “because my family already has six small turtles of the same species, and she could live with her friends, so she embarked on the journey of escaping the wildfire.”
The Chinese Box Turtle, or Cuora flavomarginata, is also known as the Yellow Margined Box Turtle, and Golden-headed Box Turtle. According to Reptiles magazine, they are known throughout herpetology and herpetoculture circles simply as “flavos,” which is an abbreviated version of their species name. They are known for their overall hardiness, good looks, and most importantly, their incredible personalities. “To know a flavo is to love a flavo.”
Although the species has been kept and bred in the United States for decades, they are considered Endangered by the International Union for Conservation of Nature (IUCN.)
According to the Chicago Exotics Animal Hospital, these intelligent turtles often become cherished family, and sometimes generational, pets with a life span of roughly 25-40 years.
Meanwhile, back in Michigan, Lee and her family began to prepare for their new arrival. “My mother and I began to prepare a new home for her, some new turtle food,” said Maddox Lee, 10, a 4th grade student at Susick Elementary School in Troy.
“Everyone was looking forward to her arrival. On January 13, she arrived, and when I carefully opened the small box, she opened her hazy eyes (because of the long journey) and looked at me pitifully and helplessly. I gently said to her, ‘Don’t be afraid, I am your new owner, it is safe here, your friends are here too, welcome to my home, we will be a family from now on! OK?’ She seemed to really understand,” Anna Lee said.
Lee named her “Yuanyuan,” which means “fate” in Chinese because, “Fate brings us together,” she said.
Yuanyuan, who is approximately 8 years old, is adjusting well to her new surroundings. “We asked her previous owner about her preferences and living habits, such as how many times a week she fed, her favorite food and fruits, etc.” Anna Lee said. “She eats box turtle food, fruits like bananas and strawberries, and vegetables such as lettuce and bok choy.”
“She’s very omnivorous, not picky at all. I feed her 2-3 times a week. She likes to eat worms, but not all kinds of worms are good for her. Canadian night crawlers are very good. And, her appetite, bowel movements, and urination are all normal. Lee said.
“Every morning when I get up, I go to see her first, and after class, I go home to see her, chat with her about what happened at school, and see how she gets along with her friends,” Maddox said. “Every time I call her name, she will look up at me, she knows me, she understands me! I am really happy to have her in my home, she makes me understand the importance of protecting the natural environment, protecting the forest, protecting my family, and protecting all life! Life is priceless!”
Cherie W. Rolfe is an ESL tutor in private practice. She is the owner of Private Literacy Tutoring in Troy.
