Let My Turtle Go?

I Don't Think So!

How many people think that they can buy or catch a turtle thinking it's such a cool pet then let it go when they tire of it? Perhaps he has grown too large and you feel that you can no longer care for him. You think the solution is to dump him at the nearest pond. Think again.

Before you throw away that turtle that you have kept for one, five, ten, or more years, you need to think about what you are doing. You are not just putting this turtle in jeopardy but all wild turtles too. Your turtle has been in your home for a long time, this means he has been exposed to many types of bacteria and viruses that he would never have had contact with in the wild. Conversely the wild turtles carry bacteria, viruses, and other organisms that your turtle has never been exposed to. This means you may be killing your pet, or he may wipe out entire populations of wild turtles.

You think he can just survive on his own? That instinctively he will know what to do? It's not likely, he hasn't learned to hunt, and he had you to feed him. He hasn't learned to stay away from all predators; he had you to protect him.

The Texas gopher tortoise is now a federally protected species because an irresponsible turtle owner let a pet loose into the wild. This turtle spread Mycoplasma pneumonia into the wild population and nearly wiped them all out.

Red-eared sliders have for decades been popular pets, since the days of the dime-store turtles sold for a quarter. Those poor turtles usually didn't live long because there was no proper care for them. They cannot thrive in an unheated, cheap plastic bowl with a plastic palm tree stuck in the middle, nor can they live on the dried ants that were sold for food. Most people didn't realize that if these turtles are cared for properly they grow to be very large turtles, especially females.

When some people realized that their darling little baby turtle grew into a huge eating machine, they decided to dump them in ponds all over the country. Think about this: if you dump a turtle into the wild and that turtle is not native to the area, that turtle will cause terrible problems for the wild turtles that are native to the area. That is if he survives. There are several areas in this country where native turtles are now threatened because unthinking, uncaring people dumped their pet RES into the nearest pond. The RES are now eating the food that the native turtles needed to survive, so the natives are dying. There isn't enough food for all of them. Before you get that turtle and absolutely before you dump it, think about the serious consequences that you are responsible for.

If you find that you truly need another home for your turtle, then contact a turtle or reptile society. These societies exist nationwide and have members who may be able to put you in contact with some one who would want to adopt your unwanted pet. Many of these societies have active adoption programs. If you cannot find a home that way, try locally. There may be many people in your area who would be interested in adopting the turtle, if you ask. Ask a local veterinarian, if all else fails ask someone at a pet store or at your local animal shelter/ SPCA. If they cannot take the animal they may know of someone who can.

Don't think for a minute that you can just dump it on a zoo, the zoos are already full. If you took the responsibility for this animal's existence then it's up to you to do the responsible thing and make certain his needs are taken care of in your absence. Would you throw away your dog, your cat, your horse, or your child? If not, then why would you throw away your turtle?

Jan McArthur, R.V.T.