Community Corner

DEP: Owning a Turtle is No Shell Game

The DEP is stressing education in its "Year of the Turtle" campaign with Partners in Amphibian and Reptile Conservation.

The state Department of Environmental Protection, as part of its "Year of the Turtle" awareness campaign with Partners in Amphibian and Reptile Conservation, is reminding residents that it is illegal to release pet turtles into the wild.

That's because most turtles sold in pet stores are not native to Connecticut, according to Rick Jacobson, the director of the DEP's Wildlife Division.

“Releasing even one could jeopardize the state’s wild turtles,” Jacobson said.

Non-native species, like the red-eared slider, which have been released into Connecticut, can become "nuisances," according to the DEP, because they compete with native species for habitat, food resources and nest sites.

The DEP used red-eared sliders as a classic example of pet ownership gone wrong. They were widely purchased from pet stores throughout the state, especially during the 1960s and 1970s, according to the DEP. The DEP says that many owners no longer desired these turtles as pets, and released them into ponds, wetlands or streams.

Red-eared sliders have thus established populations in some areas of Connecticut and may be competing with native turtles for habitat and food.

The DEP says that turtles sold in Connecticut pet shops must have a shell greater than four inches and come with written verification that the turtle was bred at a licensed commercial fish farm or aquaculture facility and was not collected from the wild.

Turtles can carry Salmonella bacteria, which cause illness in humans, according to the DEP. Pet stores display precautions about handling turtles to advise potential customers about the risk of contracting an infection from the bacteria.

The DEP advised owners to wash hands after touching turtles or other reptiles or tank objects and that turtles should remain in their tanks to avoid contamination of surfaces in the home.

Do not allow turtles or materials from turtle tanks to contact food preparation areas. Households with people at increased risk for infection should consult a physician before purchasing turtles, the DEP says.

According to the DEP,  Purchasing pet turtles on the Internet is a classic case of “buyers beware,” because the seller may not mention any legal obligations, especially if the turtle must be imported to Connecticut, thus requiring a permit from the DEP.

It is important to know that turtles generally live long lives and as the "novelty'' of owning a turtle wears off, the animals should not be considered disposable.

“It is better to gain an appreciation for turtles by patiently watching them in their natural habitats from a distance, rather than having them as pets,” Jacobson says. “Remember, humans cause the most harm to turtle populations, but we have the power to make positive changes towards their survival.”

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