May is an active time for turtles or tortoises. They've emerged from winter dormancy and set off to find mates and safe, comfortable nesting places.
Seven years ago, these annual behaviors inspired the establishment of May 23 as World Turtle Day by American Tortoise Rescue. In honor of World Turtle Day 2007, we've compiled a roundup of the latest turtle news and actions:
Texas Considers Banning the Commercial Harvest of Turtles
 |
| HSUS |
| Tell Texas to protect snapping turtles from trade. |
A first step toward stemming the decline of wild turtle populations is to prohibit any capture from the wild. The wild-caught turtle trade is big business: From 2002 through 2005, more than 256,638 wild caught turtles were exported from the Dallas-Fort Worth International Airport alone, primarily to supply Asian markets. In March 2007, the Texas Parks and Wildlife Commissioners voted on the unanimous recommendation of turtle experts to prohibit the capture of wild turtles. Now, in an alarming about-face, the commission is considering relaxing that prohibition to allow capture in privately owned waters, even though there is no way to distinguish turtles caught on private property from those caught in public waterways.
- Take Action: The Texas Parks and Wildlife Commission is accepting comments until 12:00 p.m. May 24, 2007. Go to this web form and urge the commission support a complete ban on the commercial harvest of turtles in Texas
 |
| Fund for Animals |
| Tiny turtles make dangerous pets. |
Child's Death Reaffirms Dangers of Pet Turtles
The connection between reptiles and Salmonella was tragically demonstrated this year by the death of a four-week-old Florida infant from Salmonella contracted from a pet turtle. Selling small turtles is illegal in the United States because of the health risk. The Centers for Disease Control and Prevention estimates that this ban prevents 100,000 children from getting Salmonella infections each year. The CDC recommends that children under five, pregnant women, senior citizens, and people with weakened immune systems avoid contact with turtles. Because Salmonella can live on surfaces for days, even indirect contact can spread the disease. Research published in the December 2006 issue of the journal Pediatrics confirms that exposure to reptiles is a significant cause of Salmonella infections in infants under one year old. For people who have reptiles as pets, precautions such as hand washing are essential. But the best approach is not to have reptiles as pets in the first place.
Congress Considers Allowing the Sale of Small Turtles
 |
| HSUS/Dr. Catherine Brown |
| Small turtles are big business in the pet trade. |
Since 1975, federal health regulations have prohibited the sale of turtles with shells smaller than four inches long to prevent the spread of Salmonella. Before then turtles were a major source of Salmonella infections. These regulations not only addressed human health risks but also alleviated the animal welfare and environmental consequences of the turtle trade. Countless turtles die because of poor shipping methods and inadequate care. Turtles released or escaped from the pet trade have displaced native species in many states.
However, legislation introduced in the U.S. Congress (H.R. 924 and S. 540) would require the FDA to allow the sale of small turtles under certain conditions. The Senate recently passed such a requirement as an amendment to the FDA Revitalization Act.
Turtle farmers claim to have developed Salmonella-free turtles, but there's no effective way to make turtles permanently Salmonella free. The FDA recently re-emphasized the health risks, and Congress should not overturn its judgment.
- Take Action: Tell your representatives that Congress should leave the ban on small-turtle sales in place—in the interest of public health, animal welfare and the environment.
 |
| Matthew J. Aresco |
| New hope for gopher tortoises? |
Florida Rethinks the Killing of Gopher Tortoises on Construction Sites
For 16 years, the Florida Fish and Wildlife Conservation Commission has allowed developers to bury gopher tortoises alive so long as the developers paid the state a fee. In that time, the agency authorized the killing of more than 94,000 gopher tortoises. Responding to a request from The HSUS, the FWC developed a new procedure that allows concerned citizens to work with developers to relocate gopher tortoises out of harm's way when their habitat is slated for development. Last fall, The HSUS worked with local humane and conservation groups to save 46 tortoises from burial alive. We are currently working with developers to save 500 tortoises in St. Johns County and 200 in Seminole County.
In addition, the FWC has proposed a plan that will declare gopher tortoises threatened in the state and end the pay-and-bury policy except for emergency circumstances and on sites for which permits have already been issued.
- Take Action: Florida residents have until June 14 to comment on the plan. Email the Florida Fish and Wildlife Conservation Commission to say that you support protecting gopher tortoises from development and that the final rule should have even more protections.
Florida Prohibits Possession of Small Red-Eared Sliders
 |
| Texas Parks and Wildlife |
Limits to red-eared slider sales
protect everyone. |
More good news from Florida: The Fish and Wildlife Conservation Commission recently approved regulations prohibiting possession of red-eared slider turtles less than 4" long. This move was designed to address the environmental damages caused when turtles escape or are released into the wild. It also helps protect animal welfare and children's health.
Turtles are often marketed as low maintenance pets, so people are surprised by the amount of care–and space–they require. Many turtle owners think they're doing their pets a service by letting them go, but this not only puts the turtles at risk it also endangers native species. Nonnative turtles can carry diseases that native species have no immunity to; they also compete with native turtles for food and habitat. Furthermore, Florida regulators found that red-eared sliders, who are not native to the state, were reproducing in the wild and breeding with native yellow-bellied sliders.
|
Turtles, Tortoises, and Terrapins |
|
Though all can be called turtles, the word "tortoise" is usually used for species that live mostly on land, "turtles" for species that live in water, and "terrapins" for species that live in brackish water (where saltwater and freshwater mix). There are exceptions, however, such as box turtles who live on land. |
States Celebrate World Turtle Day 2007
Want to participate in a World Turtle Day event? Here is a sample of the celebrations taking place around the United States (events take place May 23, 2007, unless noted). Please confirm directly with the venue in case details have changed.
Arizona
Estrella Mountain Regional Park: River Walk (Goodyear)
Georgia
Okefenokee National Wildlife Refuge: Look for turtles as you canoe or kayak through the wilderness over the weekend (Folkston)
Maryland
Fort Washington Park Visitors Center: Learn about Fort Washington's turtle residents (Fort Washington)
Michigan
Arborland Borders Books: Book Readings (Ann Arbor)
Texas
El Paso Public Library, Main Library Children's Room: World Turtle Day Stories and Crafts (El Paso)
El Paso Public Library, Armijo Branch: World Turtle Day Stories and Crafts (El Paso)
