#keep them wild

[barnsburntdownnow]

Hickok by Crooked Creek Bay The Cloud Foundation Photograph; Montanta, USA, 2025

[littlefootdoesstuff]

“Keep wild turtles wild. Do not collect a box turtle if you encounter one in the wild,” Vega said. “By bringing it home you are dooming it to a life in captivity, because a captive turtle can never be released back into the wild.”

  Vega noted that removing a box turtle from the wild can severely affect local populations because turtles grow  and reproduce slowly. Captive turtles released into the wild can severely jeopardize local wild turtle populations through the introduction of diseases and parasites, and can displace individuals or populations of wild box turtles by competing for resources, he added.

 “Watch and enjoy box turtles, but avoid contact.  If you observe an ornate box turtle in the wild, it is best to let it continue on its way. Do not disturb it by picking it up,” Vega said. “The one exception to this rule is if a turtle is in harm’s way trying to cross a road. If it is safe to do so, gently lift the turtle just high enough so its feet are just above the ground and transport it across the road in the direction it was heading.”

[littlefootdoesstuff]

[urhajos]

'Keep Them Wild' by Rachel Caldwell