Habitat - Outdoor :: Is it safe to free turtle

[briannashea]

I am new to this website but still need some advise. My youngest kid (23) cleans apartments for extra money. Some IDIOT left a RES in a Sonic cup with 1" of water. The poor baby is the size of 1/2 dollar. Don't know how long it's been in the cup and was considering releasing it back to the wild. I know a creek that no one would bother it, but not sure if there are more RES there. Any help would be appreciated. I have a hard time keeping "wild" things as pets, I don't think that is right, but have a 10 gallon tank if I need it to save this baby. Thanks.

if you're located near me I'll happily give it a home...everytime I've seen hatchling RESs in the wild they're too darn quick to catch so I'd assume it's store bought or maybe from a carnival like where I got millie. for now I hope you'll keep it in that 10 gal tank you mentioned, it might be a very bad idea to release it into the wild if it was captive bred and is that tiny and vulnerable

[xtacsoulja]

You should NEVER release ANY pet into the wild, it's a NO!!!!!!!!!

Most state laws prohibit releasing captive animals back into the wild, even if they are indigenous to the state. Doing so (in some places) could result in a fine of $10,000 or more

Here is what would happen if you release your turtles into the wild:
-If they are not native to the area, they could become established pests and disrupt the ecosystem, as has happened with red-eared sliders throughout the world. (Just look at Florida, and what they go through with the Burmese Python)
-If they ARE native to the area, genetic pollution would occur when they breed with local specimens.
-They could introduce diseases to the local turtles
-They may not survive the new habitat

Releasing captive reptiles into the wild has caused problems throughout the world, yet people still continue to do it. Why? Ignorance, I guess.
DO NOT RELEASE THE TURTLE!!!!!!!!!!

[robind]

A 10 gallon tank will be big enough to keep the turtle for some time. If you're going to release the turtle, even next year after he's grown a bit, release him somewhere where there are other sliders. If there are other sliders, he'll do just fine.

[wilso720]

...left a RES in a Sonic cup with 1" of water. The poor baby is the size of 1/2 dollar...

This greatly pains me! My heart aches every time I hear about treating poor turtles or any animal this way..

I am hoping within the next 2 years I can start either adopting or fostering turtles..I would love to take every turtle that has ever been treated wrong in and spoil it...

If you are at all in the Michigan area, contact me.

[Ginko]

If you live in the United States, just put it up for adoption at a shelter. If you have no shelter, look for someone who wants a free turtle. If neither of those pan out, and you are still forced to get rid of it check to see if the pond has sliders in it to let it go.

Alot of people will jump on my back for what I just wrote, but I understand your situation, and well herps are born with instincts and will live a fine life just great, BUT MAKE SURE THE POND HAS SLIDERS.

Agree seriously, im sure SPCA will take it in.

[trudykurz]

As the proud owner of a rescued turtle, as well as 5 rescued dogs and one rescued cat (the sixth dog came to me as a gift) I am saddened to see that so many people think releasing a creature into the wild is a good thing. These turts did not come into this world wild, they came into it captured and they don't have the ability to survive in the wild without serious rehabilitation. Just take a look at all the organizations out there that help wounded wild animals acclimate back to their original habitat. I'm very new to turtle ownership and I do not mean to offend anyone, I just don't agree with this position. If you take ownership of the animal you have to take responsibility for it as well.

[tanasha93]

I have to disagree with people who are saying it's fine to release animals into the wild.
It is irresponsible on many fronts:
1) The pet could have diseases that wild animals don't have a natural resistance to, or vice versa.
2) PETS are not WILD. They are accustomed to being fed, not to survival. Most importantly PET turtles DO NOT HIBERNATE. Wild turtles do. Most animals cannot just "start" hibernating, they will die.
3) RES tend to be good adapters making them awful additions to wild areas. They can out-compete natives and drive them to local extinction.

Just because you see turtles in a pond doesn't mean your turtle will survive there. For every ten pets that are released, I'd be surprised if one or two actually survive.

Don't be irresponsible. Find a home for your turtle or have it humanely euthanized by a veterinarian. You wouldn't expect a pet dog to survive in the woods, and the same should hold true for a turtle.

I totally agree with you. I hope everything goes well with your turtle. I know I would hate to have to give my turtle up. He's just like a member of my family.

[tanasha93]

[marisa]

Um, this thread was started in Sept. last year and has been inactive for a while...

[tanasha93]

Oh all the posts say 7-17-09. Is there anyway I could fix this. Sorry Thank you for telling me that.

[jozzep]

LOL.......I don't even think the people on this thread even log into the site anymore.

[seanwb]

I'm still here!

[untsmurf]

ditto, but yeah, please stop reviving old threads.

[turtletex]

I got all of mine off of craigslist, someone will take them.