I was definitely aware that keeping turtles in captivity was sketching the law. So I just got done reading the Missouri code of confined animals.
This is for the state of
Missouri website
http://www.sos.mo.gov/adrules/csr/current/3csr/3c10-9.pdfand cliff notes.
Class one animals ( All nonvenomous reptiles ( even snappers))
3 CSR 10-9.230 Class I Wildlife
PURPOSE: This rule establishes a new category for certain wildlife—wildlife inherently
dangerous to humans and the provisions for
private ownership of these species.
Class I wildlife shall include bullfrogs and
green frogs and birds (including ring-necked
pheasants and gray partridge) native to the
continental United States, and those species
of mammals (except bison and those listed in
3 CSR 10-9.240) and nonvenomous reptiles
and amphibians native to Missouri. Elk
defined as livestock pursuant to the Revised
Statutes of Missouri section 277.020 that are
held separate so as to prevent commingling
with mule deer and white-tailed deer are
exempt from permit requirements.
AUTHORITY: sections 40 and 45 of Art. IV,
Mo. Const. Original rule filed June 9, 1993,
effective Jan. 31, 1994. Amended: Filed June
5, 1996, effective Dec. 30, 1996. Amended:
Filed May 10, 1999, effective March 1, 2000.
Amended: Filed April 24, 2000, effective
March 1, 2001. Amended: Filed Dec. 26,
2002, effective May 30, 2003.
And here is the regulation for Class 2 animals
3 CSR 10-9.240 Class II Wildlife
PURPOSE: This rule identifies those species
that can only be held under provisions of a
Class II wildlife breeder permit.
Class II wildlife shall include copperheads,
cottonmouths, timber rattlesnakes, pygmy
rattlesnakes, massasauga rattlesnakes, mountain lions or mountain lion-hybrids, wolves or
wolf-hybrids and black bears or black bearhybrids.
AUTHORITY: sections 40 and 45 of Art. IV,
Mo. Const. Original rule filed Oct. 6, 1993,
effective Jan. 31, 1994. Amended: Filed June
5, 1996, effective Dec. 30, 1996. Amended:
Filed Sept. 29, 2004, effective Feb. 28, 2005.
3 CSR 10-9.350 Class I Wildlife Breeder
Permit
From my understanding on this is Turtles are nonvenomous and are native to continental US..... So all turtles would be legal in Missouri to own.
My main concern with this was owning a Alligator snapping turtle. They are native to Missouri and I just wanted to double check.