If you no longer want a turtle, keep trying to find a home or find a way to put it to sleep, as we euphemistically with dogs and cats. Do not release a pet red-eared turtle back into the wild.
Table of Contents
Can domestic turtles live in the wild?
Pet turtles aren’t usually able to survive in the wild and if they do they can do more harm than good. If you want to get rid of your turtle, you should not release it in a public place.
Where can I release a pet turtle?
Some animal control agencies and humane societies will accept turtles. Most nature centers already have enough animals to care for, and not all nature centers care about turtles, so you might be able to find a pet store that will take your turtle.
Can a pet turtle survive in a pond?
Turtles can make an excellent addition to your pond, although they do need considerable care and are not suitable for children. They don’t need to be fed regularly and will quickly acclimate to the water, which is the best type.
Aquatic turtles should be kept in a tank that is at least 12 inches in diameter. They should also be provided with plenty of hiding places in which to hide from predators, such as snakes, fish, and other aquatic animals.
How long do pet turtles live?
The lifespans of common pet turtles is 25 to 35 years. Depending on the species, the wood turtle is 40 to 55 years old. 20-30 years (depending on species).
Can I release my red eared slider into the wild?
Realize that simply letting your turtle “loose” in the wild is illegal, unethical, and may cause serious damage to wildlife in your area. The survivors may choke out native turtles for the rest of their lives because most released sliders will die in the wild.
If you are releasing a turtle in an area with a lot of other turtles, you may want to consider keeping it inside a cage or pen to prevent it from escaping.
Can you release a pet box turtle?
This is because box turtles are very popular pets, and sometimes when people do not want them anymore, or they move, they release the turtles into the wild. It is very difficult for a domestic turtle to survive in such a harsh environment.
Box turtles can live up to 20 years in captivity, so they are a great choice for people who want to keep them as pets. However, if you are planning on keeping a box turtle as a pet, you need to make sure that you know how to care for them properly.
Can a turtle raised in captivity survive in the wild?
Once a turtle is in captivity it should not be released back into the wild because it can spread disease to other turtles in the wild. Viruses, andbacteria are presented in the form of a disease.
Turtles can be injured or killed by humans or other animals. :
- They can also be killed or injured by predators such as cats
- Dogs
- Raccoons
- Foxes
- Coyotes
- Skunks
- Owls
- Hawks
- Falcons
- Eagles
- Bears
- Snakes
or any other animal that may be attracted to the turtle by the presence of its eggs or eggs laid by another animal. In addition, turtles can become entangled in fishing gear, fishing lines, nets, etc. and die as a result of this injury or death.
For more information on how to care for wild turtles, please see our Wild Turtle Care page.
