Owning a turtle can be a very rewarding experience; just bear in mind that turtles are special creatures that require special handling and a degree of commitment. Take one from its habitat and the potential for future babies is gone. It is unlawful to disturb, take, destroy or possess the nest or eggs of a terrapin or snapping turtle. Gopherus morafkai has not been assessed on the current IUCN Red List. Protectionism of endangered turtles and tortoises on a global basis, 2. Progeny of lawfully held reptiles other than desert tortoises may, for twelve months from date of hatching or birth, be held in captivity in excess of the stated limits. Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander Collection, Australian Museum Research Institute (AMRI), Australian Museum Lizard Island Research Station. Living relatives of the Tingamarra Soft-shelled Turtle spend much of their time underwater, wedged between logs or rocks and patiently waiting for their prey. They are also found in temperate areas such as the United States, Canada, and Australia. A permittee may collect from the wild for breeding purposes no more than 1 individual of each: Eastern Box Turtle, Eastern Painted Turtle, Midland Painted Turtle, Eastern Mud Turtle, Northern Red-bellied Cooter or Stinkpot, It is unlawful to sell a wild caught turtle in Maryland. I'd look into what the state laws are before dismissing it as legal for everybody. There are three different levels of protection afforded to reptiles through the Wildlife and Countryside Act 1981; this results from different parts of Section 9 of the Act applying to the different species (as specified in Schedule 5). The major difference between the two is that turtles live in the water most of their time while tortoises dwell on land. The Best Explanation, How To Handle A Crocodile? Under provincial and federal law, it is illegal to keep a wild animal (both, animals found wild in Canada and those exotic in Canada but wild to other countries), as designated under the BC Wildlife Act, as a pet. Connecticut regulations allow the taking of a limited number of snapping turtles. Sea turtles are specially taken care of, considering the fundamental role they fill in marine ecosystems. Tortoises and turtles can be kept in captivity for a long time, but it is important to keep them in a well-ventilated area and to provide them with plenty of food and water. Once importation and protected species requirements have been met, there doesnt appear to be any additional restrictions for captive bred or exotic species as to sale, export etc. Possession and harvest from the wild is no more than FOUR (4) turtles of the three species listed above per license year. However, what cant be kept as a pet in Canada often changes from province to province. Places where turtles are not allowed: Missouri law excludes turtles from food-preparation areas in long-term care facilities: Live animals, including birds and turtles shall be excluded from the food storage service and preparation areas., Interesting link: Missouri Dept. If you can demonstrate that the item is from a . Possession of all other turtles is 4. A commercial turtle harvester license is required for legal water-dwelling turtles if the taking or possession is for commercial purposes. Every turtle and tortoise species has a soft shell after hatching. The following species are prohibited for collection, possession and propagation of individuals from wild populations in Utah and prohibited for importation, possession and propagation of individuals legally obtained outside of Utah: Alligator snapping turtle (Macrochelys temminckii), Common snapping turtle (Chelydra serpentine), Desert tortoise (Gopherus agassizii) and Spiny softshell (Apalone spinifera).