Ray Swick holds Ivan, his pet Russian tortoise. Swick is trying to find a female mate for Ivan and can be reached at burrsman@gmail.com. (Photo by Jess Mancini)

PARKERSBURG — A Parkersburg man is looking for a female mate for his Russian tortoise.

Ivan is about 9 years old and has become melancholy since the first of the year, said Ray Swick, who was the historian of the Blennerhassett Island Historical State Park.

Swick has another tortoise, Sammy, a red footed South American tortoise. Sammy is a male like Ivan, but wants nothing to do with Ivan, Swick said.

“Sammy is not interested in that sort of thing,” Swick said.

Without a companion, Ivan appears to be emotionally affected as his demeanor has changed, which has been noticeable since about January, Swick said. Ivan eats about once a week and should be eating around four times a week, Swick said.

Ivan the Russian tortoise is at home on Ray Swick’s arm. Swick is looking for a permanent female mate for Ivan, who appears to be affected by the lack of companionship. (Photo by Jess Mancini)

Swick is looking for a female Russian or Italian Hermann tortoise. He can be reached at burrsman@gmail.com and is willing to drive to see the tortoise at distances such as Columbus or Charleston.

“But it has to be a female,” Swick said.

The female should be gentle in disposition and in good health, Swick said.

“(Ivan) is such a lonely little lad, I am becoming really desperate to find a mate for him before it affects his health,” Swick said.

Swick’s plans are not to incubate the egg if Ivan and the female companion happen to become romantically involved. Tortoises by their nature will not care for their young after laying eggs, he said.

Sammy, a red footed South American tortoise. (Photo by Jess Mancini)

“They’re terrible parents,” he said.

Swick obtained Ivan from Miles and Lindsey Evenson about six years ago. Miles Evenson was an assistant superintendent at Blennerhassett Island.

Ivan lived its entire life on the island and the museum until the Evensons gave it to him.

Sammy already resided with Swick at his home. Sammy came from a pet store in a Marietta, the same store from where Ivan was purchased, Swick said.

Swick said he was told Sammy was 8-10 years old when it was purchased, but that seemed too young.

Ray Swick, the retired historian of the Blennerhassett Island Historical State Park, walks Sammy, a red footed South American tortoise. Swick is looking for a permanent female mate for another pet tortoise, Ivan, a Russian tortoise. (Photo by Jess Mancini)

“They are the ideal pets,” he said. “They don’t shed and they don’t make any noise.”

He takes the tortoises outside to walk.

“It’s more correct to say they walk me,” Swick said.

Civitan Park in Belpre is a favorite place to walk. Sammy will walk for up to 90 minutes at a time, Swick said.

“As a change of pace, I take them also to The Row of the Thirteen Trees, which has its own charm,” he said. “It is located behind the Blennerhassett Museum, is a block long and stretches on a wide swath of grass between First Street and the railroad track and floodwall.”

Ivan the Russian tortoise takes a stroll on the sidewalk. (Photo by Jess Mancini)

Swick aid he and “the boys” have met nice people, especially at Civitan who are fascinated by the tortoises, ask many questions about their exotic life histories, share their own turtle stories “and often take pictures of them in all their reptilian splendor,” Swick said.

Jess Mancini can be reached at jmancini@newsandsentinel.com