How to Help Turtles in Your Neighborhood

10 Ways You Can Help Turtles

  1. Never remove turtles from the wild. It is illegal and unethical. Don’t purchase wild-caught turtles, instead adopt a shelled friend. Turtles can live up to 100 years and often need new owners.

  2. Promote preservation. Urban sprawl hurts us all and separates us and our children from our earth. Promote parks and outdoor spaces in your neighborhood and include pollinator-friendly native plants. Wildlife habitat that is good for turtles is good for the planet and all of us.

  3. Help turtles cross roads. Turtles live in their home territories and cross the roads to get to parts of their habitat. Send turtles in the direction they are going.

  4. Create a backyard habitat.  Habitat loss is the number one reason for turtles and wildlife disappearance. Plant beneficial, native plants, and let organic  matter like leaves and logs stay to create food and shelter.

  5. Mow carefully during the heat of the day. Turtles seek shelter from the mid-day heat. Females seek firm earth in a sunny spot to dig a nest for her eggs. Hatchlings are small and hard to see.

  6. Control your pets. Pets are the second biggest threat to turtles (right behind humans).

  7. Let wildlife be wild. Feeding wildlife disturbs the natural prey /predator balance and causes more predation on eggs and young wildlife.

  8. Make ponds and water features turtle-friendly. Most turtles can swim. Some, like the box turtle, can also drown. Use rocks and logs to create exits for ponds on all sides. Encourage pool owners to install turtle-friendly filters or suggest a small floating  “dock” in the filter trap, and check daily.

  9. Volunteer. You don’t have to dig in the dirt to help out.  Conservation groups need computer and fundraising help too. Or get out and help educate at your local wildlife area or park.  If you can’t help…DONATE!

  10. Spread the word. Many of our neighbors have no idea how big the struggle is for our native wildlife. Educate your friends and neighbors about how they can help. Share this page!

If kept as pets, box turtles are often placed in glass containers without their proper needs met.

Captive Box Turtles

Captive Box Turtles should not be released into the wild because they will often struggle to find resources, and they may expose native populations to disease. 

With an expected life span of more than 100 years, owners often tire of the responsibility and have few options for re-homing their turtle.

If adoption is not an option, these pets can be rehabilitated and live in a secure sanctuary habitat with other turtles.

For resources on captive wild pets, visit Don’t Let It Loose.