Photo Gallery :: I found a mud turtle in my back yard

[DOOMSTACHE]

He's pretty huge and vicious. I want to keep him but i dont know where to put him. I mean we have a fenced in area but he could get under some holes. i think he came out of the garden. (muddy) So I know he eats meat. Worms and small critters. What should i do? i guess i could release him but i love turtles. His tail is long with spikes on it.

[sonyj]

It is illegal in most states to take a turtle from the wild to keep as a pet. And even if that's not a deterrent, in the wild is where a wild turtle belongs. I'd put him back where you found him and let him find his way home from there.

He doesn't look like a mud turtle to me although he's covered in mud. He looks like some kind of snapper. Snappers are very aggressive. I'd let him be.

[DOOMSTACHE]

yeah he's a snapping turtle. Ugly one at that. Wow i thought i wanted a snapping turtle but now i changed my mind. I guess i'll put him back. But if i find a res im keeping it for sure. Kinda wierd that i found him since i live in a neighborhood. He wasn't in the wild, though. so its not really illegal haha

[marisa]

It's good you're letting the turtle go---take the turtle back to where you found it and let it go (place it in the same direction it was going if you can, but in a safe place, i.e., if it was near road and looked like it was trying to cross it, take it across the road). If it's a female, she was probably going to lay eggs or coming back from laying eggs.

[missibsu]

Even if you find an RES you shouldn't keep it. It just isn't fair to an animal that is used to living in the wild, to suddenly be exposed to a lot less room. Even though we have tank recommendations, you have to admit that it's a lot smaller than it would be in the wild.

[cam722]

yeah he's a snapping turtle. Ugly one at that. Wow i thought i wanted a snapping turtle but now i changed my mind. I guess i'll put him back. But if i find a res im keeping it for sure. Kinda wierd that i found him since i live in a neighborhood. He wasn't in the wild, though. so its not really illegal haha

If you found it outside and they are native to your area then you found it in the "wild". It doesn't have to be jungle territory to be considered the "wild". We strongly discourage the taking of any animal, turtle or otherwise, from it's natural habitat unless it's ill and needs help. Also as has been mentioned before, it's ILLEGAL in most states to do so.

[KellyP]

She's right just cause you found it in your yard doesn't mean that it's not wild. There are reasons why it's illegal to take wild turtles from the wild. It's just not fair to them. One minute thier wild and free, the next thier stuck in a small aquarium. Do the animal a favor and release it.

RES are cheap. Only around $20 at most pet stores. If you want one go buy one. If the reason you want to find a RES is to save money than turtles aren't for you. Proper setups are expensive! If you can't afford to provide the proper care for one, than don't get one.

[sarah]

wow...that is one ugly turtle...
I think I'll stick to res. haha

[khobbs]

Those are snapping turtles and they are definitely native to Tennessee. Unfortunately, on my way home yesterday on the interstate, I saw a snapping turtle on the side of the road that had been killed,

Before seeing that one, I saw a much smaller turtle in the right lane of traffic and I didn't realize what it was until it was going between the tires of the vehicle next to me. If it wouldn't have been another 20 minutes to the next exit, I would have turned around and tried to get it out of the road. And this one looked nothing like a snapper. It looked more like an RES, from the shell. I did't see the head because it was hiding. I guess we'll find out today if he made it or not.

[DOOMSTACHE]

yeah you guys are right, who would want a snapping turtle? there nothing like a res. Ugly, mean, and they dont move at all when a person's around. I do agree with it not being fair taking them from the wild. It is illegal but if anyone saw a baby res stranded somewhere im sure someone would take it. Its against to buy them as a baby and to get them from the wild.

[steve]

yeah you guys are right, who would want a snapping turtle? there nothing like a res. Ugly, mean, and they dont move at all when a person's around. I do agree with it not being fair taking them from the wild. It is illegal but if anyone saw a baby res stranded somewhere im sure someone would take it. Its against to buy them as a baby and to get them from the wild.

How they look is not the point. A wild animal should stay wild. A stranded baby RES needs help and would more readily develop captive tendencies.

[tissigirl]

Yeah, i thought he was kinda cute anyway. A little dirty, but cute.

[industrial_girl_2000]

Yikes. I would leave that guy alone!

They are a lot cuter when they aren't trying to bite you all the time.