Well, I decided to post this, since I was recently accused of being a hypocrite, preceded by a rather colorful choice of wording.
I have been looking to acquire a Florida box turtle (terrepenea carolina bauri) for a while now. I posted an ad in the wanted section, and I was told since I was in Florida, it was illegal....I see so many posts of this on ads for florida box turtles "NO FLORIDA SALES!". I don't understand where this rumor circulated from originally, but I intend to clear it up.
If you read the info about box turtles on Florida fish and wildlife's' website (myfwc.com) it will basically tell you, you can buy from a legal vendor, but you can't own more than 2. Well, I'll clear up the second part first. This is not "twisting the law" by the way. The 2 limit is "2 per person of household". So, I live in a house with 6 people....I could legally own 12. Its right there in writing for you; so, if you have a family, the limit isn't a huge deal.
Now, the wording on the website is VERY tricky. Its hard to understand; everyone takes one look and sees "no buying, selling" and thinks its immediately illegal....Well, the fwc is FULL of contradictions. I knew very well from reading as much as I could, buying them from out of state IS legal. I also though buying them from an in-state licensed vendor was legal; however, this was not the case.
Well, after all the crap and accusations that I was doing something illegal, I finally just contacted them. I sent a message how I usually do....turtle and tortoise enthusiast, looking to acquire a breeding pair for conservation purposes (which is my purpose) yada, yada, yada. You know the drill.
This was my response:
Mr. Seay,
You may not purchase Florida Box Turtles in the State of Florida from an In-state vendor. Box turtles must be purchased from out of state vendors only. You do not need a permit to purchase the turtle from the out of state vendor.
Now, you can accuse me of just typing this up myself, yada yada, but first ask yourself; why would I do that? If this wasn't the actual reply, why would I be posting it here? I know for my own purposes, what I seek to do is completely legal. However, due to the rarity and decrease of population in Carolina Bauri in their natural state (Florida) I wish more people in this state to acquire them. That is my purpose....So why would I lie?
So, maybe your like me...In Florida, you love Florida box turtles, but you feel its unfair you can't have them when you live in their natural state? Well, you can now rest assured, its legal. May the dreams of Floridian residents' owning (or breeding) terrepenae carolina bauri come true .
I have been looking to acquire a Florida box turtle (terrepenea carolina bauri) for a while now. I posted an ad in the wanted section, and I was told since I was in Florida, it was illegal....I see so many posts of this on ads for florida box turtles "NO FLORIDA SALES!". I don't understand where this rumor circulated from originally, but I intend to clear it up.
If you read the info about box turtles on Florida fish and wildlife's' website (myfwc.com) it will basically tell you, you can buy from a legal vendor, but you can't own more than 2. Well, I'll clear up the second part first. This is not "twisting the law" by the way. The 2 limit is "2 per person of household". So, I live in a house with 6 people....I could legally own 12. Its right there in writing for you; so, if you have a family, the limit isn't a huge deal.
Now, the wording on the website is VERY tricky. Its hard to understand; everyone takes one look and sees "no buying, selling" and thinks its immediately illegal....Well, the fwc is FULL of contradictions. I knew very well from reading as much as I could, buying them from out of state IS legal. I also though buying them from an in-state licensed vendor was legal; however, this was not the case.
Well, after all the crap and accusations that I was doing something illegal, I finally just contacted them. I sent a message how I usually do....turtle and tortoise enthusiast, looking to acquire a breeding pair for conservation purposes (which is my purpose) yada, yada, yada. You know the drill.
This was my response:
Mr. Seay,
You may not purchase Florida Box Turtles in the State of Florida from an In-state vendor. Box turtles must be purchased from out of state vendors only. You do not need a permit to purchase the turtle from the out of state vendor.
Now, you can accuse me of just typing this up myself, yada yada, but first ask yourself; why would I do that? If this wasn't the actual reply, why would I be posting it here? I know for my own purposes, what I seek to do is completely legal. However, due to the rarity and decrease of population in Carolina Bauri in their natural state (Florida) I wish more people in this state to acquire them. That is my purpose....So why would I lie?
So, maybe your like me...In Florida, you love Florida box turtles, but you feel its unfair you can't have them when you live in their natural state? Well, you can now rest assured, its legal. May the dreams of Floridian residents' owning (or breeding) terrepenae carolina bauri come true .