A 150-year-old desert tortoise named Butch, missing from his Cupertino, Calif., yard since Sept. 25, is home and off for a long winter nap.

Butch's owners, the Carle family, believed he was stolen because there is a chain link fence around the property.

Chuck Carle told the San Jose Mercury News that he went out early on Monday to pick up the newspaper and found the 40-pound terrapin in the front yard. The gate to his property was open.

Desert tortoises go into hibernation this time of year, and Butch immediately went to sleep after his return.

The tortoise was a gift to Chuck Carle's mother when she moved into the home in 1943.

When she passed away during the summer, her son and daughter-in-law took over care of the land turtle.

Penny Carle said the turtle's return was like an early holiday gift.