Living With Turtle Neighbors

Can I Keep a Turtle I Found Outside?

Not only is it illegal to keep native wildlife as pets, but turtles are long-living reptiles, making them an extreme commitment. Some PA species can live more than 80 years old. Young turtles, while small, are equipped to survive on their own as soon as they hatch. Kidnapping a young turtle (even temporarily) can severely reduce its ability to survive later on. If you’re looking to add a turtle to your family, reach out to local domestic reptile rescues as they are often overwhelmed with requests to help people with unwanted pet turtles.

Can I Release My Turtle Outside if I Don’t Want it Anymore?

It is illegal to release any non-native turtle species into the wild because they are either unable to survive or they will out-compete native turtle species. If releasing a native turtle species into the wild, the turtle must be healthy and released between May 1 and September 30 at the exact location it was harvested from . Consult a permitted wildlife rehabilitator before releasing any native turtles held in captivity for more than 30 days.

Red-Eared Sliders are an invasive and detrimental species to our native turtles and should NEVER be released into the wild. The owner of an unwanted slider must be responsible for finding a new home for the unwanted turtle(s). Red-Eared Sliders can live to be more than 50 years old, thus, they’re a big commitment for anyone wanting a pet turtle. 

How Can I Help a Turtle Cross the Road?

Turtles are extremely vulnerable on roadways but often need to cross them to reach breeding or hibernation grounds. If a turtle is crossing a roadway, you can pick it up like a sandwich and move it across the road to ensure its safety. You can encourage snapping turtles or other large species to walk faster across the road with gentle poking by using a stick or shovel. The turtle must be moved in the direction it was heading, or else, it will just attempt to cross the road again. NEVER relocate a turtle. 

Why Is a Turtle Digging in My Yard or Garden? 

From May to June, different turtle species in PA (including Snapping Turtles) will seek out places to lay their eggs. Females will find soil patches that absorb water and heat, which are essential for incubation. Once the eggs are laid, the female will leave and not return to the nest. Egg laying can take a few hours, and is a faster process if the female is left undisturbed. Many nests are predated by mammals, but eggs will hatch after 60-90 days if the nest is undisturbed. Hatchlings emerge between August and September. It is illegal to disturb the nest or eggs.