I Found a Wild Turtle. What Do I Do?
BEFORE you contact us or any other wildlife rescue, there are a few things to consider.
Not all situations require rescue. If you determine the turtle does require our help, our contact info as toward the bottom of this page. IF you pick up a turtle, please, please, please take note of the location where you found it. This is critical information for us and any other rescue if the turtle is able to be released once rehabilitated. We have also included a page with contact information for Other Wildlife Rescues in Mississippi that might be able to help.
When in doubt, contact us!
Not all situations require rescue. If you determine the turtle does require our help, our contact info as toward the bottom of this page. IF you pick up a turtle, please, please, please take note of the location where you found it. This is critical information for us and any other rescue if the turtle is able to be released once rehabilitated. We have also included a page with contact information for Other Wildlife Rescues in Mississippi that might be able to help.
When in doubt, contact us!
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Is the turtle injured or in a dangerous location? If the answer to both of those questions is "no", then do nothing. The turtle will be fine. If the turtle is in a dangerous location, it's perfectly fine to move it to safety so long as you stay safe yourself in doing so.
If the turtle you found is injured, gently collect the turtle and put it in a clean, dry container in a warm but shaded area away from pets or potential predators. Do not attempt to apply any type of first aid. Give us a call, shoot us an email, or contact a qualified reptile vet in your area for assistance. See our Turtle Emergency page for more detailed information on helping an injured turtle or tortoise. Never release a turtle directly into a lake/pond unless you are absolutely positive that it is an aquatic turtle. Box turtles (that look a whole lot less "boxy" when they're babies) cannot swim. If you mistakenly throw a box turtle or tortoise into a pond, it will drown. It's best to set a turtle down near the water, but not in it. If you found a box turtle, please keep in mind that box turtles have a "home range" - an area about the size of a football field where he will spend his entire life. If you move it outside his home range, he will spend the rest of his life trying to get back to where his instincts tell him is home.
Photo courtesy of wildlifecenter.org
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If you see a turtle on the road, please do not take chances with your own safety. Only stop to help if you can do so safely. If you do stop, take the turtle to the side of the road he was heading toward. (If you put him back in the direction he came from, he'll just try to cross the road again). **If the turtle is crossing a large divided highway such as an interstate, take the turtle back from the direction it came from, and place him/her as far off the road as possible.
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I Have a Pet Turtle that I Can't Keep
Unfortunately, our facility is not a sanctuary. We have very limited space, and that space is reserved for turtles who have been injured or are recovering from illness, and are undergoing rehab with us. If you've found yourself unable to care for your pet turtle:
- PLEASE do not release your turtle into the wild. Once a pet, always a pet. In captivity, turtles are exposed to pathogens and bacteria that are not found in the wild. If you release your turtle, he or she then takes those germs with him to the wild where he will encounter other wild turtles. Those wild turtles, having never been exposed to those specific germs, may not be able to tolerate them, and the germs could make them sick. Additionally, if you've had your turtle for some time, he now associates humans with his food supply. In the wild, turtles need to be suspicious and fearful of humans. Not all humans are nice to turtles. In short, releasing a turtle that has been kept as a pet is potentially harmful to both your turtle, and to the wild populations of turtles he would encounter in the wild.
- If you can't keep your turtle due to limited funds to upgrade to a larger tank or enclosure, we'll be glad to share with you some budget ideas for turtle housing.
- If you can't keep your turtle for any other reason, we suggest listing him for adoption on sites such as PetFinder, Craigslist, or Facebook. We would also be happy to list him or her with our own adoptable turtles here on our website. If this is an avenue you'd like to explore, please send a few good, clear photos of your turtle, the turtle's name, species, sex, age (if known), and your contact information to our Adoptions Coordinator at turtlerescuems.adoptions@gmail.com.
- Do you have a question about turtle care?
- Is this an emergency?
Please read the Turtle Emergencies post for tips on what to do if you have an injured turtle or tortoises.
- Are you interested in adopting a turtle?
If you would like to contact us directly, we'd love to hear from you. The preferred contact method is by email or text. Using one of these two methods will ensure a more immediate response.
Central Mississippi Turtle Rescue
Post Office Box 1374
Florence, MS 39073
(601) 845-1932
(601) 672-1418 (text only, please)
Please read the Turtle Emergencies post for tips on what to do if you have an injured turtle or tortoise.
turtlerescuems@gmail.com
*Please note - this rescue is not staffed full-time. This is a home-based facility, run by a husband and wife team, both of whom work full time jobs. We will make every effort to respond to calls, emails, texts, and messages as quickly as possible. If you need immediate assistance and cannot reach us, please try contacting a local reptile vet (Google reptile vet for a listing), a licensed wildlife rehabber in your area, the MS Department of Wildlife, Fisheries, and Parks, or the Jackson Zoo. You can find contact information for other wildlife rescues in MS on our Wildlife
Rescues page.
Central Mississippi Turtle Rescue
Post Office Box 1374
Florence, MS 39073
(601) 845-1932
(601) 672-1418 (text only, please)
Please read the Turtle Emergencies post for tips on what to do if you have an injured turtle or tortoise.
turtlerescuems@gmail.com
*Please note - this rescue is not staffed full-time. This is a home-based facility, run by a husband and wife team, both of whom work full time jobs. We will make every effort to respond to calls, emails, texts, and messages as quickly as possible. If you need immediate assistance and cannot reach us, please try contacting a local reptile vet (Google reptile vet for a listing), a licensed wildlife rehabber in your area, the MS Department of Wildlife, Fisheries, and Parks, or the Jackson Zoo. You can find contact information for other wildlife rescues in MS on our Wildlife
Rescues page.
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If you are unable to contact us, or if you are not in the central Mississippi area, Animal Help Now is a fantastic resource for finding wildlife rehabilitators or veterinarians across the United States. There is also an accompanying app for both iOS and Android. |
