Found a turtle on the road. Should I take it home or release it?

Thank you for using PetCoach. This appears to be a box turtle. Please do not keep this turtle as a pet, In most states it is illegal to do so, beyond that it is very difficult to provide adequate housing and nutrition for wild reptiles. Many species of box turtle are endangered or vulnerable due to human interference. http://www.boxturtles.com/box-turtle-conservation/ If interested in a turtle for a pet, I recommend you search for local reptile or turtle rescues in your area. box turtles and other species can live up to 50 years in captivity, so need a long-term commitment. But often end up in rescue when people can’t take care of them there entire lives

Hello. This is a common Red Eared Slider & there is a ton of information available online, in books & at pet stores on the proper care of these turtles. Please inform yourself the best you can to give this little guy the best chance possible to have a long life. They can make very good pets. Thanks for using Petco Pet Education Center, formerly Petcoach.

It looks like a juvenile slider. Ideally, a wild turtle should be returned to the area where found. They don't transition well to captivity Since it is a juvenile , you may have a better chance though. You can read about slider care here: http://www.anapsid.org/reslider.html You can feed a commercial pellet or stick diet supplemented with fresh greens and some protein in the form of crickets, feeder fish or nightcrawlers. The water should be no deeper than twice the length of the shell and should be heated and filtered. Provide a heat lamp and UVB lighting.

If you are able to take a photo of the turtle to post on our site, we may be able to help identify the type of turtle. Without seeing it, it is impossible to say just by describing the bumps on its shell as some different species can appear to have bumps. The safest thing to do is probably to replace the turtle where you found him in your yard, as he may have already had an idea where he was headed, unless you are afraid your pet may eat him.

This looks like an eastern long neck turtle. i would recommend reading the following page, this should give you the basic information you need. i would of course recommend putting it back in nature in a suitable environment for him/her: http://www.backyardbuddies.org.au/backyard-buddies/eastern-long-necked-turtle

Those are a pair of yellow belly sliders. They are common throughout your state. Returning them to the spot you found them or to the nearest body of water would be recommended as well. If you plan on keeping them, check local, state and federal wildlife laws first. Care of this species is identical to its cousin, the red eared slider. You can review care at the link below. http://www.anapsid.org/reslider.html

Once a turtle is in captivity it should not be released back into the wild for the following reasons: 1.The turtle can spread disease picked up in captivity to other turtles in the wild. Pathogens, viruses, and bacteria are not always presented in the form of a symptom. Even if the turtle looks and acts like its feeling well it can still carry pathogens that will wipe out entire populations of wild turtles. Your turtle could be immune but be a carrier and therefore highly contagious to other turtles. 2.Wild turtles live in areas where the food will sustain their needs. If everyone who decided his or her turtle would be better off free, think again. If you release the turtle into an area that is already heavy with native turtles, you end up with a situation where they are all competing for a limited amount of food. 3.Turtles should also never be released into the wild because of climate and adaptation. For instance, a non-hibernating turtle such as a Mexican Wood turtle or an African sideneck released in a cold climate like Tennessee, Maine, or anywhere there is potential for freezing weather will surely die. In addition, if your turtle was a pet and has relied on you for food, he may not be the strongest hunter and will slowly and painfully starve to death when he cannot find food easily.