Hey guys,

I have an opinion but it may not be a well formed one, and I wanted to know what yall think about it.

Some one found that turtle I posted in the Introductions forum. When they heard I had a tortoise, they told me they had found a "tortoise" and had him in a bucket of water. I volunteered to help them find out what kind he was and what care he required and help set them up (all through you people's lovely advice). I couldn't stand the thought of him in a bucket.

What ended up happening is they just gave him to me. It never crossed my mind to keep him because I just don't agree with that.

I don't know how I feel about people finding red eared sliders and keeping them for pets. My opinion is that if you find it in the wild, it should stay there. And if you rescue it off the side of the road, then you should make sure it's healthy and release it.

That's all my intentions were for that little guy I found - make sure he was healthy and release him back in the wild. He can probably take better care of himself in the swamp than anyone else could. It seems he would be happier that way.

So my question is do yall agree that people who find turtles and tortoises in the wild should keep them there and that if they find them on the side of the road they should make sure they're healthy and release them? Or are there certain species that should only be domestic/wild no matter where you get them from?

I just don't see how a red eared slider would like to live in a small pond as opposed to a whole lake or swamp. Especially since most owners out there don't know how to care for these animals (present company on this board excluded because everyone here has their turtles' best interests in mind).

Thanks - any thoughts you have or education you can give me on the subject is much appreciated.

Wid animals should be left in the wild and rehabed animals should be released into the area they came from. In your case that is not possible because of lack of knowledge as to where it came from.

I would say if it is a RES and is an introduced species I would rehome it or keep it. I really don't care if it is in the wild if it doesn't belong there, then find it a proper home. In this case, I don't know if it is a native species or not. I wish it was illegal to sell RES period! Too many people release them.

I will just add that I think once a animal is taken from the wild and brought into captivity it should not be placed back into the wild population ESPECAILY if it was exposed to other species of tortoises and turtles.

Here in Florida red eared's are a huge problem. They have become an established alien species taking over the habitat of the native species. On top of that they are producing hybrids with native Florida species. Same thing I believe is happing in Europe.

Yepp, I used to live in Sweden. I used to go and watch the RES in a some small ponds inside the city limits of Lund by the botanical gardens!! There hasn't been turtles in Sweden in thousands of years!!! Until now that is.

RES are everywhere. I just was at a talk on the native species of aquatic turtles around my home CA. the speaker for land management and researcher on native turtles said they are being released in inclreasing numbers and do infact take over other turtles habitats and crowd them out. That being said. If RES are a native species in your area, and you have an idea where they found it. I would let it go in the same area. If you have no idea where then it will more than likely have to be a owned turtle. Rescues or zoos often will take them or direct you as to were you can take them. Be warned once people know you have torts and turles you will often be given them by good intentioned folk. Easier to give it to someone who knows a little about them, than to keep one yourself, at least It seems a lot of people must think this. I agree if a tort is a native species and found in the road check him over if ok take him a little ways off the road and release him. Same for the aquatic species.

This should be a headline of this site...I have already had five or six people try to give me their turtles.

Leave wild animals in the wild... in my opinion, even MOST injured animals should be left alone. I get question after question from people who have 'rescued' an injured turtle and then want to know what to do with it.

The problem of course is that now the rescuer has to 1. establish a good habitat from scratch, 2. start to care for an animal they don't even know how to feed, 3. figure out a way to provide good medical care (and they are usually reluctant to go to a vet with the potential for big bills), and 4. have a plan for what to do when it is well.

I have had too many long correspondences with distraught parents trying to do the right thing, but in way over their heads. While I applaud people's hearts for trying to be humane, it has to be tempered with the thought 'do I know anything about this?'