Return it to the wild? or Find it a home?

Return to wild or find a home?

  • Return to the wild

    Votes: 0 0.0%
  • Find a human home

    Votes: 2 100.0%

  • Total voters
    2

Stacy N-B

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Mcalpin, Florida
Return it to the wild (I'm for) or find it a home (not something I support 100%). I was given a box turtle (I think). I'm pretty sure was found in the wild (here in FL). Don't know anything about these nor the best course of action. I'm for returning to the wild. However, if it's more likely that a bad/horrible outcome will be the end result. I'd like to give it a chance. Any advice would be helpful. Trying to make an educated decision. I'll try to get a pic in case it's not even a box turtle.
 

Yvonne G

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You can't return it to the wild unless you know for certain it is indigenous to your area and where it actually came from. If you put a captive bred or pet box turtle out in the wild chances are it's going to die.

Please post a picture of the box turtle.
 

Stacy N-B

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Thank You Yvonne. I do know CB/Pet's are not suitable for release into the wild.
UPDATE: It's back in the wild. I got conformation that it was found in the road. Just a little ways away from my house. (I originally found it in a box on my porch). You can delete this post since it's not relevant any longer. Out of curiosity I would like to find out the proper/recommended way to handle this. So the next time I find a critter on my porch. I can help them right away.
 

wellington

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Thank You Yvonne. I do know CB/Pet's are not suitable for release into the wild.
UPDATE: It's back in the wild. I got conformation that it was found in the road. Just a little ways away from my house. (I originally found it in a box on my porch). You can delete this post since it's not relevant any longer. Out of curiosity I would like to find out the proper/recommended way to handle this. So the next time I find a critter on my porch. I can help them right away.
My opinion is to do what you did, let it go back into the wild. However you have too know 100% that it's a native species, was not captive bred or kept as a pet for any length of time and must know where it was found. Wrong answer to any of those requirements it needs to be kept captive.
 

jsheffield

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Absent identification as a local species, previously from the wild, this seems premature ... release of non-native or captive-bred animals into the wild is as much a problem as the reverse.

Since the ID of the tort/turtle was not positive, I'm puzzled as to why there was such a rush to release the beast.

Jamie
 

Stacy N-B

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Mcalpin, Florida
It was identified 100% prior to being released. Just to be clear. The only reason I was unsure of the identity. I am not well educated on turtles. Here in Florida I see many different ones. If there happen to be two that are very similar in looks. But are actually different. I would not know the difference. For that reason I am not 100% confident or capable of accurately identifying turtles. I hope this helps to ease your mind. I can assure you (Jamie). I would have also been asking for help with figuring out what it was that I had in my possession. Way before I set it free in my area. I do understand your concern.
 

mark1

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the spread of disease should be a major concern with the release of even a native species that has been kept in captivity for any length of time …….. you need to be sure of what the animal was exposed to while in captivity ……..
 

Stacy N-B

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What kind of exposure would hinder a re release? Specifically a turtle/tortoise being found in the wild then returned back into the wild. Would like to know things that should be considered and avoided in these situations.
 

mark1

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exposure to the viral and bacterial diseases that are present in the pet trade , through exposure to pet trade animals ……….. if for instance that box turtle was housed for a short time with a tortoise with a mycoplasma infection , or a herpesvirus infection , a ranavirus , or adenovirus infection, or a myriad of other diseases common in the exotic pet trade , most of which could be devastating to a wild population ………..
 

AllieKat1997

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If your not 100% sure, absolutely positive, saw it get picked up from the wild I would NOT let it go. I’d be horrified if I let go a turtle I thought was from the wild but was actually a captive pet and it starved or got killed another way cuz it didn’t know better.
 

Stacy N-B

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Sorry for lengthy delay on following up this. That makes since. Goes along with why you shouldn't mix different species. Thank you for taking the time to explain that to me.
 

Stacy N-B

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Thank You, It was confirmed that it was taken from the wild. Before it was put returned the wild. The area that I live in. It's a very very slim chance that you'd randomly come across a pet turtle crossing the road. Anything's possible tho
 

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