is it legal to let turtle loose in the wild?

Question

im thinking no, but im not sure.
many time i see people i know let loose turtle in the wild after they are getting a little too big for a fish tank. these turtle was bought when they were babies. i always wonder if they are incompatible with the surrounding they are let loose on and that more harm than good were done to them. I know that handing it to animal control is the right thing to do but no one listen.
so is there any law for these type of things?

Answer 1

NO it is perfectly LEGAL

Answer 2

In many states it is ILLEGAL to release captive animals into the wild. Doing so can be cruel to the animal which has become domesticated and might not be able to survive on its own and in the bigger picture, it may very well devastate a local population if it is a predatory animal.

And when I say predatory I don't mean a big mean beast like a wolf or shark, I mean anything that consumes other living creatures. Turtles, such as the Box Turtle, are ILLEGAL to release in many states.

A commonly seen turtle, the Red Slider, has over populated and pushed indigenous species to the bring of extinction and all because some people who thought they would make great pets decided they coudl just put a turtle in the local pond and that's "OK".

You're better off bringing an unwanted turtle to a pet store and askign them if they will take it off your hands.

Answer 3

IT IS NOT LEGAL you can get a heavy fine for realeasing turtles into the wild that arent native species it screw up the eco system such as red eares sliders they are only native in the mississippi river when you intoduce them into other inviroments they may thrive but, they kill off native species and eat plants that are not suppose to be eaten by them which then causes animals that are suppose to eat those plants to starve or be hungry maybe even die they also a lot of times can not handle the natural bacterias and funguses so sometimes will end up dying slowy and painfully it is best just to give it away

Answer 4

In the US, there are federal, state, and local laws, and in some cases, different agencies have different laws than other agencies in the same jurisdiction.

So- there is no easy answer to the question.

Many places prohibit the release of captive animals under basic humane care laws, others forbid the release of non-native animals under fish or game laws, etc.

Problems with releases include:
- carrying disease to wild populations not resistant to it
- out-competing native species for food, shelter, etc.
- attacking wild animals, foods, etc.
- the released animal rarely lives long

Red-ears are a nuisance animal in much of the US- they are breeding and overwintering in places they are not supposed to be and local populations of wild turtles are declining rapidly.

Big Red-ears are hard to care for, and most potential homes for them are already full. You can try a local shelter, zoo, arboretum, etc. but few will guarantee that they will care for them for very long.

(Faced with budget and other problems, a few places have admitted to using some donated animals as food for other animals. While this may seem cruel, I think it is absolutely practical. If the original owner did not think this out and is basically 'dumping' their responsibility off on someone else, then the sentimental value of the animal is obviously not important to them.)

Answer 5

It is VERY illegal! The people who are saying it is legal have no idea what they are talking about! Dumping of ANY non-native animal, or native animal that has been held in captivity for more than six months is ILLEGAL! Not only will this possibly introduce species to wipe out native species by competition, but dumped animals spread DISEASE, also causing problems for local populations.

People who dump any animal needs to be wrapped in a burlap bag and tossed in a river. Florida is a ecological mess because of people getting exotics and releasing them! Native species in the everglades is getting wiped out by Burmese pythons that were released. Well, those pythons are now breeding and there is nothing to stop them from consuming the native wildlife, so they will effectively drive many into extinction if the pythons are not eliminated, soon.

Answer 6

Section 14 of the Wildlife and Countryside Act 1981
prohibits the release to the wild of animals "not ordinarily resident" or that are not regular visitors to Great Britain and other animals listed on Part I of Schedule 9. It also prohibits planting in the wild of plants listed in Part II of Schedule 9 or otherwise causing to them grow there. These provisions are necessary to prevent the establishment of non-native species which may be detrimental to our native wildlife.

This is UK Law, I'm sure there are laws in the USA and other parts of the world prohibiting it. I know for a fact there are USA state specific laws prohibiting release of animals not native to the environment.

In Florida for example,

372.265 Regulation of foreign animals.--

(1) It is unlawful to import for sale or use, or to release within this state, any species of the animal kingdom not indigenous to Florida without having obtained a permit to do so from the Fish and Wildlife Conservation Commission.

(3) A person in violation of this section commits a Level Three violation under s. 372.83

Level 3 are serious violations and result in a first degree misdemeanor that upon conviction leads to a fine of up to $1,000 and up to a year in prison. Subsequent convictions again result in mandatory and escalating penalties.

Answer 7

Try and sell him rather than release him into the wild captive breed animals don't have servival instincts so you would be putting him to death. Keep him untill you find a new home even if you give him away sombody will have him. Advertise him in shops and papers speek to reptile shops some will take him off your hands.

Answer 8

It IS illegal in most areas to introduce non-native animals into the ecosystem, and for good reason.
Red-eared turtles, for example, are now introduced in many parts of the world, where they are wreaking havoc on native ecosystems, and are considered major threats.
You are right, this is done by ignorant people who get tired of caring for their pets.

Answer 9

It is illegal in most states to release animals into the wild. there are exceptions that require a permit to do so.
I believe it is illegal in all states to release non-native animals
into the wild. it disrupts the echo-system.
It is only illegal to own a tortoise without a permit in certain states or cities with the exception of endangered species.

Answer 10

well if you have a tortise it is not even legal to have one if you do not have a lisence but if you are talking about a turtle than i dont know BUT i think you can drop it off at a zoo that is the safest way i think and what if it is the wrong habitat than the turtle will die :(

Answer 11

Many ppl do it. There is no law but u still have to sneak them somewhere.ppl might call the police on you and tell them it is animal abuse or something. But a pet is for life so keep it that way!