
“I want that’ was my initial reaction to Talia Tortoise. When I first spotted this steel critter I knew exactly where she would go.
We have a beautiful tree outside our new cottage and I want Talia Tortoise poking behind it. Talia greets all visitors to our place as if she were real.
And don’t even get me started on Burl Ray Bat. He’s going right on the tree above Talia Tortoise. Maybe you’ll put Talia Tortoise on your front porch or patio? Burl Ray Bat can go on the side of your house? Just an idea!
Desert Steel is fun. They are always creating new product enhancing your outdoor space to make you smile.
The Critters Collection. Irresistible and innovative. You are going to think of a million places in your yard and garden where you’d want to put Talia Tortoise and Burl Ray Bat! Choose wisely.
So I’m going batty thinking about the first place winner who gets Talia Tortoise ARV $159. Second place winner scores adorable Burl Ray Bat ARV $79 from the wonderful Desert Steel company.
Enter to WIN!
Just scroll to the bottom of this post and fill out the easy peasy SweepWidget form.

Steel critters for all….
What’s your favorite wild animal? That’s a tough question. Owl, bat, rabbit, road runner, tortoise, lizard, hawk, bee, javelina or quail?
Lucky for you, Desert Steel offers a wide selection of wild animals to adorn your yard and landscape. They chose to make landscape art out of some unique and fun animals that don’t get enough recognition!
Animals that fly, walk, swoop, plod, creep, crawl and hop. Fun animals to make your yard and garden a place to reflect, smile and relax.
And Talia Tortoise. Swoon. She’s adorable and the size of most real tortoises I’ve stumbled across. She looks so realistic that it seems as though she could take off walking any moment. Albeit slowly!
That is….If she wasn’t hand-fashioned out of steel. Same for Burl Bat who is so intrinsically made. One wonders if this bat isn’t going to swoop down and land on you.
That bat eye. I’m telling you, don’t make eye contact. She can see right through you. Glowing.
We actually have lots of bats at our cottage and they love to get inside. It’s a little creepy when they sneak in. But Burl Ray Bat stays outside attached to a tree. We’d prefer all bats to be like Burl Ray Bat.
Speaking of animals that fly…do you think if I ask nicely that Desert Steel will make me a woodpecker?

Joy in the details with steel critters
Desert Steel takes such pride in the details. When you examine Talia Tortoise and Burl Ray Bat up close you notice so many tiny details that make each sculpture so authentic.
The tortoise head is so real. It looks like she’s smiling. The feet so lifelike, as if they could actually walk. The curvature is turned in like a real turtles foot.
But the shell is my favorite part so closely resembling that of a real turtle. Is Talia going to take off walking? You tell me. She’s adorable nestled by my tree greeting both visitors and those just passing by our cottage.
Burl Ray Bat does his job, too. He’s attached to the tree above Talia and dares to swoop down on those who walk by. Certainly both are great conversation pieces!
Now I think both Burl Ray bats wings and ears are so sweet. But it’s his feet that melt my heart. Little bat feet that look incredibly real hanging upside down all batty. Only Desert Steel can do this!
Both are so weighty for being so small in stature! That’s how steel art works.
Did you know?….Tortoises smell using their throats, not their noses!

Product specs…
Talia Tortoise
- Indoor/outdoor use
- Made in USA
- Minor scratches/imperfections will disappear with natural weathering
- Maintains a natural patina finish
15″L x 8″W x 5.5″H
Burl Ray Bat
- Indoor/outdoor use
- Made in USA
- Minor scratches/imperfections will disappear with natural weathering
- Maintains a natural patina finish
- Mounting hardware not included
3″W x 5.5″D x 15″H
Did you know…bats can eat up to 1200 mosquitoes an hour?

Taking life too seriously
It’s tempting to take life too seriously. Maybe it’s time to sit back, relax and have a good laugh at ourselves.
Life is far from perfect….isn’t that what we all learned this past year?
Desert Steel helps us have a good laugh at ourselves and at life. Wild animal sculptures that captivate our imagination and hearts.
Don’t you enjoy taking a walk around your neighborhood and seeing all the houses with outdoor animal decor? I always think……”wow, I bet those people must be nice, fun and interesting” when I spot animal sculptures in yards.
Equally fun is placing some cute critters in your garden. Your veggies will appreciate a hawk or two guarding the gates. Better still, maybe that hawk will keep real, live critters at bay. Pests who nibble your crops.
All the while making us enjoy life a little bit more. Every time I glance at my turtle and bat, I can’t help but smile.
They remind me not to take the little things in life for granted.

Only the best with Desert Steel Critters
Thick steel. That’s Desert Steel quality for you.
Bold and beautiful steel animals molded with aesthetic flare by true artisans who have nailed yard art.
Desert Steel knows to create drama in the yard with steel critters, flowers, cacti, succulents, pumpkins and pineapples to enchant you and your guests.
And you already know that stee isl synonymous with strength and endurance. Why else would Superman be referred to as the Man of Steel?
It’s this longevity that that gives you more bang for your buck with Desert Steel. Desert Steels products withstands years of rain, snow, sleet and sun. I know this as a longstanding owner of Desert Steel sculptures, bird feeders and solar lights.
Tom and I leave them out all winter with no worries. And they look great year-round. Everyone is happy. The birds eat all winter long and the solar lights illuminate pathways and our driveway in the dead of dark winter.
Refreshing. Even more refreshing is knowing that I’m not throwing out my bird feeders, solar lights and other sculptures at the end of each season because they’ve cracked or have faded or no longer look nice.
With Desert Steel you have art that ignites the imagination 365 days a year!

I think the tortoise would be a good addition to our garden since our live one went for a swim and drowned! I think she was helped into the pool by our Boxer π I did not know that bats eat mosquitoes. We need a few of those at home π
They are different. Nothing I would of ever came up with.
I LOVE TO HAVE THEM…
How cute. I love turtles so of the two that is my favorite
we have turtles (not real) all over the house- it would be nice to have one for our yard
Thank you for hosting this cheery giveaway.
I like the turtle. Turtles live in the pond will find it welcoming.
I love Desert Steel garden critters!!
Yard art and turtles is perfect. I always learn something from your blog.
I didn’t see a secret code on the third link
I couldn’t find one either
The turtle is my spirit animal. I have a few decorative ones in the house and one outdoors. The one outside was made of resin and despite being made for outside, it crumbled. away. It was only a few years old.
I don’t have any decorative bats but I have real ones. They live in my unused fireplace chimney. I have very few mosquitos in my yard despite living in humid Tennessee. I thank the bats for that.
I am glad to see you reviewing made in USA products.
Thank you so much for a chance. Love to garden.
Thank you for your entertaining & educational information! The way a turtle smells things was fascinating! And, both are delightful critters! π Thanks for having these generous giveaways. And, it’s always heartwarming to reflect that Desert Steel is an American company!
These will look great by my 2 raised boxes
I would absolutely love to win this CONTEST so I’m in ty
THese are sooooo cute.
There is no secret code on the bottom of the tomato post I have read through it twice
so cute! These would be a nice addition to our yard. Thanks so much!
I would love to add them to my flower gardens! They are beautiful!
Nothing more beautiful than nature and to display this art work would be amazing! β€βοΈπ¦π»πΊπΉ