Keeping native turtles wild

The wood turtle is a rare species in Vermont. (VF&W Photo by Luke Groff)

Turtles can make good pets, but Vermont officials are asking people to let native turtles remain in their natural habitat. 

Taking native turtles as pets can harm the individual animal and actually threaten wild turtle populations. For those reasons, doing so is prohibited, even if it’s only for a short time, wildlife officials said in a Thursday statement. 

“Releasing captured turtles back into the wild could introduce wildlife diseases into the population or disrupt population genetics if released into a new population,” said state herpetologist Luke Groff. “Adult turtles usually have well-defined home ranges, so releasing a turtle in unfamiliar habitat may result in its slow death since it won’t know where to find food or take shelter.”

Another key factor is how long it takes turtles to grow in this region. 

“Turtles are slow to develop, especially those living at northern latitudes where the growing season is short,” Groff explained. “Many of Vermont’s turtle species do not reproduce until they are at least 10 years of age. Older, sexually mature females are critically important to the long-term persistence of some Vermont turtle populations. The loss of even a couple mature females from a population may have serious consequences.” 

That said, the public can help document the activity of rare species. Some common species likely to be seen include the painted turtle, snapping turtle, and northern map turtle. However, the wood turtle, spotted turtle, and spiny softshell are rare in Vermont, and people are urged to report sightings of these species to the Vermont Fish and Wildlife Department. As officials advised, if you see these animals out and about, “feel free to take a photo home with you, but leave the turtles in the wild.”

For more information on Vermont’s native turtle species, visit vtfishandwildlife.com or contact Groff at Luke.Groff@vermont.gov.

— Gareth Henderson

A wood turtle in Vermont pauses for a rare photo opp. (VF&W Photo by Luke Groff)