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About Central MS Turtle RescueThe Central MS Turtle Rescue was founded in 2013, born from the passion and dedication of two people who recognized the need for a qualified turtle rescue facility in the Central Mississippi area. We provide rescue and rehabilitation for wild turtles that are injured, sick, abused, neglected, or abandoned turtles and tortoises.
Our goal is to release all native rehabilitated turtles back to their natural environment. Turtles that are not native to MS or are unable to be released to the wild are rehomed through adoption to qualified applicants or remain in our care to safely live out their lives. We are authorized wildlife rehabilitators under an Administrative Rehabilitation Permit through the MS Department of Wildlife, Fisheries and Parks. |
How We Got Started
Our journey to become a rescue started back in 2006 with a single box turtle rescued from a burn pile. This inspired the occasional rescue of turtles we would notice that had been hit by cars or injured in other ways. Before long, people (including our own vet) would contact us to help other turtles that were hurt or sick. This unofficial "rescue" continued for many years, but it was a very special turtle (tortoise, actually) that convinced us that we could truly help turtles so much more if we made it official and became a nonprofit organization.
In August 2010, on an internet turtle discussion board - TurtleForum.com - a friend at the Mid Atlantic Turtle and Tortoise Society (MATTS) in Maryland, posted about a tortoise who had been surrendered to them. This Redfoot Tortoise, Booboo, had been kept improperly for his 17 years of life. The original owners loved Booboo very much. They just didn't realize what they were doing wrong, and that his deformity was because of his diet and environment. When they did realize it, they surrendered him so that he could be helped. To read the rest of Booboo's story and how he changed our lives ...
In August 2010, on an internet turtle discussion board - TurtleForum.com - a friend at the Mid Atlantic Turtle and Tortoise Society (MATTS) in Maryland, posted about a tortoise who had been surrendered to them. This Redfoot Tortoise, Booboo, had been kept improperly for his 17 years of life. The original owners loved Booboo very much. They just didn't realize what they were doing wrong, and that his deformity was because of his diet and environment. When they did realize it, they surrendered him so that he could be helped. To read the rest of Booboo's story and how he changed our lives ...
501(c)(3) Nonprofit Rescue!
Toward the end of 2016 we decided to become more official. We started working on our ultimate goal of becoming a 501(c)(3) nonprofit rescue. One of the primary hurdles to get over was raising enough money for all of the legal and filing fee's. We launched a t-shirt fundraiser (our very first one), raised enough money and filed our application to the IRS. Two weeks later we were approved!
Meet Our Board of Directors
If you are interested in meeting our Board of Director Members ... click here