Four Reasons You Shouldn't Move A Turtle To Somewhere 'Better'

With the weather warming up turtles are going to be out and about and crossing roads everywhere. Here are some suggestions if you get the urge to relocate them...DON'T!

IT'S HAPPENED TO ALL OF US

Be honest you've done it before. You're either walking or driving along and you spot a cute little box turtle minding his or her own business strolling slowly across a street and you panic thinking it might get run over. So you carefully pick it up and help it cross the road safely or you decide to help it find somewhere 'better'.

For example a few years ago E'legance the Intern and I found a turtle at Owensboro RV and had the bright idea to take it to Fisher Park by the pond. We innocently thought a turtle might like being by the water. We had no idea the harm we could have caused it.

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=agHo2jNwqhs

WHY TYPES OF TURTLES LIVE IN KENTUCKY

I'll be the first to admit I am not a turtle guru. I had no idea there were 14 different types of turtles living right here in Kentucky. I would have guessed two.

According to an article in Pet Keen here are the different types;

EASTER BOX TURTLE
RED-EARED SLIDER
EASTER RIVER COOTER
FALSE MAP TURTLE
MISSISSIPPI MUD TURTLE
OUACHITA MAP TURTLE
COMMON MAP TURTLE
MIDLAND PAINTED TURTLE
EASTERN MUD TURTLE
COMMON MUSK TURTLE
ALLIGATOR SNAPPING TURTLE
COMMON STAPPING TURTLE
SMOOTH SOFTSHELL
SPINY SOFTSHELL

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=V6PH-DM3jeQ

HERE'S WHY YOU DON'T MOVE A TURTLE SOMEWHERE BETTER

With the weather warming up turtles are going to want to get out and about. It's the time of year from now until late summer early fall when we find a lot of our cute shelled friends crossing the road. If you observe a turtle crossing the road here are a few things you need to do to truly help it get to where it is going safely;

Do not take them to a different area from where they are. Turtles get acclimated to certain areas and when you move them you put them at risk of picking up diseases and other sicknesses that their body may not be able to fight off.
You should not keep a wild turtle if you find one say in your backyard. They are not used to the environment and won't thrive.
Turtles have their homes with them on their backs. They very rarely travel more than a mile and a half from where they were born.
If moved from their home they will continually try and find their home FOREVER. This is awful to think about if you move them miles and miles away from home it confuses them. LEAVE THEM BE but get them to safety!

MEET OTIS THE CUTEST BOX TURTLE EVER

Box turtles are probably the most common type of pet turtle. Each has its own personality and Otis is a step above the rest.

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=jFM08TgTaLE

THERE'S A KENTUCKY TURTLE DERBY

Apparently, here in Kentucky just like the horse derby there is a turtle derby and it's wildly popular.

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=q1cFQpl_qkw

Pets You Can't Own in Owensboro

Cats, dogs, certain birds, and aquarium fish are examples of pets you CAN own in Owensboro. Here are 14 you CANNOT own.

Kentucky's Nuisance Animals

A couple of these creatures would cross over into the "dangerous" category, but the Kentucky Department of Fish and Wildlife says that these are ALL nuisances, and with good reason.

Snakes in Kentucky

When you check out the guide, you'll learn--if you didn't already know--that there are only four venomous snakes indigenous to Kentucky and an ENORMOUS number of non-poisonous ones.