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So i was at petsmart today and my dads a big talker and he got to talking about how its going to be illegal soon to own a turtle in TN. The clerk said it already was...and i didn't believe him. This is pretty much all i could find and it was posted may 9, 2006. I couldn't find any hard evidence about laws or anything though. But if it is true...SHHH dont tell my vet! lol

http://www.dnj.com/apps/pbcs.dll/article?AID=/20060509/LIFESTYLE/605090330/1024

Oh, man! I've not heard of that before. I can't find anything else out there on the web about it being illegal but that one article. I'll keep searching and let you know what I find.

I've searched and searched and all I've come up with are articles that state that it is illegal to buy turtles under 4 inches. So I wrote the author of the article asking for her info source. Was that totally stupid of me? I really want to get to the bottom of this.


PS: on another note, during my searching I found out that World Turtle Day is coming up - May 23! Maybe we should have a party for our little guys, huh, Steve? Possible? You could provide the party favors!

i dont think george will wear a party hat but i will try

There are other inaccuracies in the article as well... anyone want to bring that to their attention?

Thanks for the reminder Sonja... what to do?

I would like to know too! I knew they were illegal to buy under 4" but i hope they aren't illegal to own. I asked my vet the other day hypothetically(sp) and she said if they were illegal to own she wouldn't be able to treat them anymore. Either it better not be true, the turtles cant get sick, or the vet can NEVER find out!! lol

Ok, guys. Here is her response via email. Let me know what you all think my next step should be. Sounds to me that they mean it is illegal to take a turtle from the wild, not own one bought at a pet store etc. What do you all think?


"Hello, Sonja.

I got my information from Rachel Carrigan at the Wilderness Station of Barfield Crescent Park and the Tennessee Conservationist magazine. I left a message with Rachel, but, because of our schedules, we will not be able to speak again until Monday. I also left a message with the Tennessee Wildlife Federation, and I am waiting on a call back.

If you would like to try to contact Rachel, she said she will be available around 5 o’clock today. Her number is 217-3017. If you would like to contact the TWF, their number is 353-1133. If you would like to access the magazine online, it is located at www.state.tn.us/environment/tn_consv/

But, as soon as someone calls me back, I’ll send you more information in an email. When I interviewed her for the article, Rachel told me it was a Tennessee law, not a federal one. The federal law states that you can own a turtle under four inches, but you cannot sell one. In Tennessee, however, it is illegal to collect a turtle from the wild in any way, according to the Tennessee Conservationist magazine.

The magazine, printed 6 times a year through the TN government, lists “pet collecting” as one of the top three reasons for the decline in the turtle population. By collecting them for pets, people are endangering their species. Not to mention the fact that captivity stresses a turtle and compromises their immune system.

I assure you the information in the article is not false.

Colleen Johnson"

Many states make it illegal to take or release and endangered turtle from the wild. Some states have limits of how many you can keep captive.

The site, www.state.tn.us only refers to wild caught turtles and the most relevant proclamation being All turtles listed as endangered or threatened or listed as "In Need of Management" as proclaimed by the Tennessee Wildlife Resources Commission may not be taken...

edit... just came across this:
1200-14-1-.36 SALE OF TURTLES PROHIBITED.
It shall be unlawful for a person to sell, barter, exchange or otherwise transfer any turtle as a pet; or to import or cause to be imported any type of turtle in the State of Tennessee for such purposes.

Like the federal law:
1200-14-1-.37 SALE OF TURTLES FOR SCIENTIFIC, EDUCATIONAL, OR FOOD PURPOSES EXEMPTED.
Rule 1200-14-1-.36 does not apply to the sale of turtles to institutions for scientific or educational purposes, nor to the sale of turtles for food purposes.

PDF: http://www.state.tn.us/sos/rules/1200/1 ... -14-01.pdf
HTML: http://64.233.187.104/search?q=cache:Uf ... pdf+turtle

It is similiar in CT---it's illegal to take an endangered or threatened reptile or amphibian from the wild. In CT, turtles that fall into this catagory are the bog turtle, wood turtle, and eastern box turtle (I'm not sure why the diamondback terrapin isn't included). The taking of other forms of wildlife is, of course, discouraged as well.

Its a funny thing to me how the pet stores still sell turtle food, docks, and etc...I just happen to ask if they would be getting any turtles in and the girl freaked out. She said your not allowed to have turtles as pets in TN its illegal. I was like then why do you all sell stuff for them?

In some states it illegal to collect any wild animal without a permit. What i got from the artical was that they where talking more about wildlife. You could write a letter to your local courthouse or something like that, and ask about it.

I suposse, just for arguments sake, that they could sell the turt. food b/c frogs eat them as well. Docks could be just for decorative purposes....

hehe