Our 15 year old tortoise has woken from hibernation due to the unseasonally warm temperatures.
How is it best to deal with this,we have a small camping fridge and I was thinking of putting her in but it has no thermostat,perhaps a timer with say 3 or 4 hours on then off and a temperature sensor to try and keep around 5 degrees.If we let her in garden I am thinking its too cool for her to eat but she will burn fat that she needs if/when the temperature drops?

Here is some good advice.

http://www.tortoisetrust.org/articles/toowarm.htm

Thank you, I have put her in a coolbox with a temperature gauge and hoping to keep it about 5 degrees.
Interesting and helpful site btw

You are welcome.

Keep her awake now for the Winter, in a warm room. It's virtually certain that if we get a cold spell now, she will die if you allow her to re-enter hibernation. I know this from when I had 4 tortoises as a kid, and they all died as a direct result of waking too early in very mild weather, then went back to sleep in a very cold snap, then subsequently died.

Thanks for your input but she has gone back to sleep already,temperature is at 5 degrees in coolbox.She did not urinate eat or drink and her weight is still good from the Jackson ratio chart I downloaded from the link posted.I will keep a check on her though after your advice.Our problem is to give her a decent sized pen would be difficult indoors.I am sincerely hoping you were unlucky.Thanks again

Good luck - as you've followed the expert advice, it should hopefully turn out well.

I kept them in an old coal house which maybe got too cold in the severe frosts, despite the boxes and straw.

Sorry to go off topic here but just curious, can you still buy tortoises today or are they now banned from sale?

My neighbours tortoise used to do this. She gave it lettuce and tomatoes before putting it back into a cool box and under the stairs to get it to go back to sleep.

Hope yours is ok?

If anyone is interested,tortoise has woken up a few days ago,is eating ok and all seems well.

Great news

I'm happy to hear that too