i want to get rid of my turtle,what do i do?

Question

i have had my turtle for 3 years.ever since she was a baby.shes now gotten bigger and i want her just to be free.i have a pond in my back yard and i wanted to know if it would be ok for me just to put her in there.I do not trust her with anybody else and i do not want to sell her or keep her.I dont think its fair that she just sit in a tank in my living room all day so i wanted to know what to do.how will she be fed when shes in the pond? I want to put her in the wild but i do not know if she will survive on her own.

Answer 1

How can we answer this correctly when we do not know where you live nor what type of turtle you have. If you live in say Canada and you have a turtle that is from a tropical or arid climate it most likely will not survive. It is also illegal in a lot of states to purposely release exotic animals into the wild.

Answer 2

1. The guidelines I recommend for wild releases are:
a. Wild caught to begin with
b. Not been captive for over 8 months
c. Can be released within a mile of home.

Otherwise, you are basically dooming the animal.

2. It seems selfish that you do not think anyone else can care for it or love it as much as you do. I would definitely reconsider offering her for free to a good home or adoption agency.

3. Most zoos cannot take donated animals. The donated animals are often ill or used to specific cares/diets, take space the zoo does not have, and require food and care the zoo cannot afford. More than one zoo in the US has admitted they routinely euthanize such donated animals. Regardless if your zoo does or not- zoos should not be a dumping ground for our old pets.

4. Your backyard pond probably does not have everything she needs to be happy- such as food, protection from predators, etc.

5. One thing I can offer as a compromise: release her in a city park lagoon or other pond closely surrounded by people that you have seen turtles at. This way she will not hurt a wild population, mess up the natural balance, etc.

I DO NOT recommend that option, but it is a way to deal with what can often be a bad situation.

Answer 3

Give her to an aquarium. Thats what I'll do with my turtles if I can no longer care for them. There are all sorts of things to worry about with a pond, such as pollution and other animals living there that could be diseased. But, if you give her to an aquarium (or possibly a zoo), you know she'll have tons of space, have plenty of food, and not have to worry about being eaten by something or diseased. Also, since you've had her for so long, she might not be able to survive on her own, as you've stated.

I think your local zoo or aquarium will be your best bet to insure your turtle has a long, happy, and prosperous life, and I doubt that they would refuse to take her in.

Good luck to the two of you!

*just thought of this*

If you still want to have her around, but not in a tank in your living room, you could buy a big plastic kitty pool, sink it into the ground, stick a filter in it, and put some kind of small, close-knit fence around the surrounding few feet of dry ground. But youd have to make sure she cannot escape or, yes, as someone has stated, she very well could die. You'd still have to feed her, though, but that shouldnt be a problem. Just dont let her get into the pond. Also, the kitty pool idea isnt exactly fool-proof. Like, youd honestly have to work out something with the filter. Another also, you should put some kind of mesh or screen on the top so that predators cant easily get in

Answer 4

Captive turtles will not survive in the wild. Period. They have never had to hunt on their own to surive, they don't know how to avoid predators, their brains aren't programed for survival. They have relied on you for 3 years and have never had to be wild. If you want your turtle in your pond, that's great but you'll have to feed it and clean the pond. It will starve to death if you don't provide it with food. Life isn't fair but you chose to have a captive turtle. Captivty is the only life that this turtle knows and can survive in. She can NOT survive in the wild. More than likely, she'd be eaten by a predator.

Your best bet, if you don't want her and don't want to care for her, is to take her to a reptile rescue group or a herp society. They take in unwanted reptiles and find them good homes. They take excellent care of the animals that they have. A pet store most likely won't take your turtle and zoos won't either as they don't know what the turtles been through, fed, treated, etc and already have enough animals to care for.

Answer 5

http://www.turtlehomes.org/

Call them. They are a rescue organization that will take unwanted turtles and tortoises.

DO NOT PUT HER INTO THE WILD. THat is cruel, and it is unlikely that she will survive! She will either starve, get hit by a car, or get eaten. She will probably be okay in the pond in your backyard, but make sure she cannot escape from your backyard or she will die. Also, you will still have to feed her with whatever you fed her before if she is in your yard.

Please, don't set her into the wild, call or email the people I linked you to aboveand they will take the turtle from you. You say you do not think others will take good care of her... I don't think putting her in your backyard or setting her free is taking good care of her at all. These turtle rescues will put your turtle into a good home, probably better than the one you can provide.

This is a placement application: http://www.turtlehomes.org/usa/applicationplacement.shtml

Answer 6

Setting any pet loose in the wild is a bad idea. The most likely outcome is that they will starve because they don't know how to hunt, or become a meal for predators they have never had to worry about. Check out the turtle rescue that the first person gave a link to. If that doesn't work for you, ask your vet or local humane society for options. I also wanted to respond to the person that thinks you can just give your unwanted pet to the zoo. It is very likely that they will NOT want your pet. Zoos have limited resources and couldn't begin to take in all the unwanted pets people wish to give them.

Answer 7

You can't put a captive turtle in the wild! It will die. Let someone else keep her. I'm sure you can find someone that you can trust.

Answer 8

I would take Gracie's advice and give him to a shelter most captive animals will die in a matter of weeks once let loose its not fair to them to be treated like this so give the shelter a ring and let them re home him.

Answer 9

Letting any animal free increases the risk that it will be hurt or encounter other dangers. However, if you do decide to let your turtle free to the pond, she will be able to find food on her own... Ponds have lots of bugs around them, and turtles enjoy that kind of meal.

Answer 10

i reallly dont think you want to go to jail so dont let it free and i mean i guess give it to a humane society that doesnt euthizinse even though it is your animal your resposiblty.