Anyone Know Anything About Turtles

**subwayseries** · 11-11-2003, 01:15 PM

The white spot could just be the carapace naturally flaking off as is grows, or maybe not. If it's a pet store turtle that someone let loose, it probably won't survive in the wild on it's own. Twisterdog mentioned this earlier.

Your local or county animal control agency or ASPCA should be able to help you with a phone call. In the meantime, if you see turtles that look exactly like your lil' Orphan Annie swimming around the lake at the park near you, it's a good chance that's where he/she came from. An animal officer could tell you in a minute.

As far as eating goes, turtles will sometimes not eat for a few days, and longer in fact during hibernation season. Baloney is actually OK in small amounts (as a treat), but turtles become more herberific as they get older and should get more fruit & veggies.

If we were in the same area I would adopt the little guy. Please let us know what happens. You're very kind to spend the time doing this. It won't take much to see that this turtle survives.

If you have access to a camera, post some pics. Even throw away cameras give you a CD when you develop them. Take a couple turtle shots, and you'll still have 25 exposures for your other pets. Pets love getting their picture taken.

**lizbud** · 11-11-2003, 04:29 PM

Thanks. I will take a few pics of this turtle tomorrow and also
give the Humane Society or Animal Control a call. I had actually
thought of talking to the folks at the Nature Center at the park
about whether to release him there or surrender him to them.

The people across the street probably already think I'm looney
since I'm over there about him so much.

so I don't think they
would mind. Thanks all, I'll let you know what happens. Liz.

**Twisterdog** · 11-11-2003, 04:43 PM

Originally posted by lizbud
This turtle certainly does not have a proper environment.
These folks are not cruel people at all, but the guy made it quite
clear to me yesterday that he does not want to keep it. I guess
he doesn't know what to do with it. I thought that providing the
right food would at least keep it from starving. I didn't know
about the fungus issue. It does have a spot on it's shell that
is lighter that the rest of it. Sort of like a powdery like spot.
I guess their having good intentions are really not enough here.
I think I should re-think leaving him/her with them. I wish I knew
the right thing to do for it. The park I was going to take him to
is a city park, but it's over 4,400 acres & has a large lake & many
streams. Should I take it there?

Lizbud, I don't want to hurt your feelings, but I'm kind of frustrated by this. A week ago, I told you exactly what you should do. And I wasn't just making some stuff up, I have done wildlife rehabilitation, worked at humane societies and rescued/owned several turtles. I said:

If it is a wild turtle that is a native species, and it just happened to be wandering in the road, then by all means, it needs to be released where other members of its species lives, and ASAP, too.

BUT if it is a pet turtle, from a pet store, and not a native species, there are several things that could happen, none of which are good. First and most likely, the turtle will just die, being in a wild environment ina potentially different climate than it is suited for. Second scenario: the turtle lives long enough to infect the native turtle population with whatever disease it may be carrying from the pet store or it's native area. The native turtles/reptiles/amphibians may not have immunity to a different disease, and be decimated quickly. Third scenario: the turtle thrives, maybe meets up with another of its kind that also got "released" by a well-meaning but uninformed pet owner. They breed. They eat native species with no natural defense/awareness to them. They take over. They wipe out natural species. This is a HUGE problem in many parts of the world.

Please, please, please NEVER release ANY pet into the wild, and only release a wild animal when it has been checked by a licensed wildlife rehabber first.

If you can get the turtle from him, call a wildlife rehab center and they will pick it up.

subwayseries, luckies4me and FoxGal also gave you good advice.

Please .... listen .... get the turtle from these people. Call a licensed wildlife rehabilitation faciliy (look in the phone book, I know for a fact there are several in Indy ... I used to live in Lafayette) and they will come pick the turtle up, identify and evaluate it and do the right thing for it. Please.

I know you mean well, and I know you're trying to help. Good for you. Lots of people wouldn't care or try. I think it's great that you are trying to help the turtle. But in all honesty, people that don't know what they are doing with herps cause much, much more harm than good. The turtle needs to go to someone who is familar with native species and turtle care. Please.

**Twisterdog** · 11-11-2003, 04:53 PM

Here are links to web pages listing many, many wildlife rehabbers in the Indianapolis area.

The first one listed does nothing but turtles. They are in New Palestine, but I'm sure they either know someone who would come get the turtle, or have foster homes nearby.

http://www.pogospals.com/pogospals/I...RTLE_CARE.html

http://www.wildlifecare.org/listindiana.html

http://www.southeasternoutdoors.com/rehab_usa.html#in

http://www.huntington-indiana.com/hu...ife_parent.htm

http://www.bsu.edu/ourlandourlit/Env.../Preservation/

**subwayseries** · 11-11-2003, 06:08 PM

lizbud, Twisterdog is right. Perhaps it's too risky to allow anyone to try and keep a herp with no prior experience or knowledge. I was just trying to help, feeling badly for the turtle.

Take TD's advice and contact a wildlife rehabber. The turtle will thank you.

**KYS** · 11-11-2003, 07:49 PM

Just to add to Twisterdog post.
Their are Turtle club society/etc. all over.
You just have to look on the net.
I am sure if you click on one of Twisterdogs,
addy's they can, and will direct you in the right
direction to someone in your area.

**amoore** · 11-12-2003, 11:57 AM

May i give you a link that helps me when i have questions about a pet ?
http://www.petplace.com
They will answer anything you need to know .

**Twisterdog** · 11-12-2003, 01:46 PM

*oooooooohhhh, sees that cute little Tiny again .... steals him from amoore and ruuuuuns away*

**amoore** · 11-12-2003, 02:42 PM

Thanks Twisterdog ,You seem so nice Tiny would probably be licking you if she met you .

**lizbud** · 11-12-2003, 05:51 PM

I'm not looking for any more advice thanks, I've gotten many
links to check out & I have. Just because I haven't posted a blow
by blow account every day doesn't mean I haven't been working
on identification & rescue. It's very easy to critique someone
else's methods and commitment to a cause when they are not
the one waiting on the return email or phone messages. I want
to thank folks for the contact links & info given. The turtle was
picked up by Marty La Prees at Indiana Turtle Care tonight at
6 PM. She said he was a painted turtle,male, in good health &
so friendly that she thought he'd make a great turtle to use on
her educational visits throught Indiana. She said he was a real
sweetie.

http://www.pogospals.com/pogospals/I...RTLE_CARE.html

**subwayseries** · 11-12-2003, 06:48 PM

I love happy endings.

**Twisterdog** · 11-12-2003, 08:35 PM

It's very easy to critique someone else's methods and commitment to a cause

I hope you don't think that is what I was doing! I said "I know you mean well, and I know you're trying to help. Good for you. Lots of people wouldn't care or try. I think it's great that you are trying to help the turtle." I never had any doubts about your commitment to the turtle. It was obvious you care a lot about it! I was just frustrated because you didn't seem to be reading our posts, because you were still talking about releasing it in a park a week after I explained why that would be a very, very bad idea. I wasn't criticising you, though, I admire your commitment!

The turtle was picked up by Marty La Prees at Indiana Turtle Care tonight

Yeah!! Great news!!

Thanks for saving him!!!!

**lizbud** · 11-13-2003, 03:27 PM

I forgot to post this yesterday in talking about the Turtle
Care Organization. I told the lady at Indiana Turtle Care about
the Pet Talk group & the different forums. She asked me to send
her a link to Pet Talk, which I did.

She did say she spends
quite a bit of time on the internet & would love to check Pet Of
The Day out sometime. It would be great if she could join &
maybe give health/rescue advice to people. Oh, and she named
the him Drexel, after the street where he was found.

**Cinder & Smoke** · 11-13-2003, 03:52 PM

So Drexel, da Turtil iz gonna be FAMUS , huh?

WW!

Turtil onna Lekshure Cirkit...
Whood'a thunk...

NICE Goin, Miz Liz!!

**lizbud** · 11-13-2003, 05:48 PM

[QUOTE]Originally posted by Cinder & Smoke
[B]

[i]So Drexel, da Turtil iz gonna be

FAMUS

, huh?

W

W!

Turtil onna Lekshure Cirkit...
Whood'a thunk...

Yeah Cinder & Smokey...... I've already begun to picture
him on their website.

Not because of his circumstances, but
because Drexel's a very pretty turtle. A good example of his
breed according to Mrs. LaPrees. He responded to her voice
right away & let her "play" with his feet. She said that was a
very good sign that he's very comfortable with humans. A born
Star.