Water Turtle Rescue

Hi,

I'm sorry, but I don't know of anywhere that has an opening for red eared sliders, painted turtles, cooters, or other large water turtle species. They are the turtle species most often turned into rescue, and the species LEAST adopted from rescue. This leaves reptile rescues with a major problem. You see, it can takes months or even years to find a suitable home for a large water turtle such as a Red-eared slider!! This is not acceptable, as I often receive several calls or e-mails per week from folks needing to place them. Having seen the results of a "rescuer" who didn't say no (with the animals ultimately suffering for it), I have refused to do so, as I will not allow myself to fall into a cycle of neglecting the animals to whom I am dedicated.

Your best bet is to find the time and space for your turtle. This may not be easy, and I understand that for some folks, it may not be possible at all. RES turtles ultimately need an outdoor setup, which can be made with a little time and money. (It doesn't have to be expensive, but can be as elaborate as you like.) A pond that has been appropriately fenced in (with either a lid or electric fencing to keep out predators, such as raccoons) is a great idea, and can make for a lovely backyard addition. Turtle gardening is a growing hobby, and there are many places online to find more info about it. The benefits of keeping your turtle outdoors are many: more natural environment for the turtle, natural sunshine (UVB is vital to their health!), and less maintenance care for you. You can stock your pond with feeder minnows or goldfish as one source of food, and grow various edible plants, as well as feeding commercially available turtle food. The initial labor of installing a turtle pond is well worth the end result, and may add value to your home.

Here’s one website that can help you:

http://www.ponddoc.com/WhatsUpDoc/WildLife/WetlandEnvironmentTurtle.htm

Some pointers to help you with both supplies, labor, and money issues:

1) Go to www.freecycle.org and sign up for your local freecycling group. There you can give and receive items at no cost. I've seen many folks give away pond accessories they no longer need!

2) If the hassle of weekly aquarium cleanings is the main issue, consider getting a "Python" brand siphon. It's available at most pet stores, or online. It will make changing the dirty water MUCH easier, and with less risk to you of salmonella transmission.

3) Remember that you may well be over-feeding your turtle. Turtles in the wild do not eat nearly as much as we give them. If you're feeding more than 2-3 times per week, you may wish to cut back on the feeding. This will save you time and money in feeding, and keep your tank clean longer.

The alternatives to keeping your turtle are:

1) Place a newspaper ad and screen prospective adopters.

2) Give it to a friend/family member.

3) Put flyers up at your local vets/pet stores.

4) Humane euthanasia (done by a vet, not at home.)

5) Retain your turtle until I can place it.

Consider that in options 1-3, the person who adopts may decide that they, too, don't have time/space/money for the RES turtle, and it may end up being neglected, turned loose, or killed violently. Also realize that simply letting your turtle "loose" in the wild is illegal, unethical, and could potentially cause serious damage to wildlife in your area. Further, you could be the cause for local ordinances being passed that would penalize good reptile owners for your misjudgment. Option 4 is never pleasant, but could certainly end up being a better alternative than the above.

Option five is recently added, as I have found a new avenue with which to find them homes. If you are intent on adopting your turtle out, please e-mail me (no phone calls, please) with the following information:

1) Turtles' size, age, and gender (if known)

2) Current diet (be specific - don't tell me "veggies". I need to know WHAT veggies, how much, and how often.)

3) Current caging situation

4) EXACT types of lighting and heating on the cage - yes, it's that important!

5) Health issues - anything and everything you can tell me about its physical and mental state

6) A digital picture to post, along with the name of the turtle (if it has one).

Please realize that even with this new avenue of finding homes, it may still take a while.

PLEASE BE CONSIDERATE OF MY TIME - IF YOU FIND IT A HOME BEFORE I DO, LET ME KNOW, PLEASE!

While I am not requiring a donation for this service, I certainly accept them to help defray my time and efforts to assist you.

If you would like to help other turtles and owners from experiencing this same situation, please report the sale of hatchling red-eared sliders to the proper authorities, as there is a federal regulation that prevents their sale at that size. The regional FDA office can be found in the blue pages of a phone book, and the FDA will accept consumer complaints for the sale of hatchling sliders.

If you have purchased a red-eared slider, and discovered that the slider was not the pet you were told it would be, please let the breeders and those seeking to INCREASE the number of sliders sold know what you think. The following article explains how the Louisiana State University, turtle farmers, and the Louisiana state government are trying to expand the sale of hatchling red-eared sliders. At the bottom of the article are contact points for both the writer, researchers, and turtle farmers. If you don't agree with the statements in the article, then LET YOUR VOICE BE HEARD. PLEASE contact those listed in the artle, and let them know the truth about pet sliders.

http://www.lsuagcenter.com/news/June2003/Headlines/HelpingTurtleFarmers-06-24-03.asp

ADDED July 10, 2010:

Have you purchased a baby slider turtle and realized you were in over your head? If so, please consider writing, e-mailing, or calling Senator Landrieu. She is trying to make it legal to sell baby sliders again (it's currently illegal in all 50 states to sell a baby turtle as a pet in connection with a business). If you've purchased a baby slider, you know how much work they really are as they grow up. Please let the Senator hear your story so that she knows these are not the "perfect" family pet.

http://landrieu.senate.gov/about/contact.cfm - for an on-line form

The Honorable Mary Landrieu
Washington, DC Office
328 Hart Senate Office Building
Washington, DC 20510
Telephone: (202) 224-5824
Fax: (202) 224-9735

Please note that red-eared sliders, the most common turtle in the pet trade, are also the most commonly surrendered/unwanted turtle. They start out tiny, green, and cute, but can grow into 6-11" turtles in a few short years, and need a 75 gallon tank or larger when full grown, and live for decades. Although it is currently illegal to sell baby sliders, many tourist areas get away with it, and tell buyers that the turtles are "low maintence" and "won't get any larger". Over 90% of sliders that show up in rescue - and thousands are up for adoption - are purchased as illegal hatchlings. One rescue in MD is asked to take over 90 adult sliders are year, and about half of those are purchased as illegally sold hatchlings from Myrtle Beach, SC.

For more background on the slider problem, visit
http://www.metropets.org/Newsroom/articles/slider.php

(Special thanks to Katrina Smith of the Mid-Atlantic Turtle and Tortoise Society for this info about contacting the FDA, and other suggestions for this letter.)

It is with great regret that I make these suggestions to folks who normally wouldn't even consider euthanasia; in fact, I have had many nasty responses to doing so. I'm sorry to have to be so blunt, but it's the only way I can stress to RES owners the dire position that reptile rescues are in with regards to aquatic turtles. Moreover, the fate of the countless reptiles whose owners seek to find them "better homes" is almost never the outcome that the owners claim to want for them. I hope you give this serious thought and that you are able to make the best decision for you and your pet.

Good luck,

VA Reptile Rescue, Inc.

http://www.vareptilerescue.org

PS - you are welcome to try other rescues.. there is a list of a few on my list of other reptile rescues, and there are comprehensive lists at www.anapsid.org.