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Posted by tedn on May 13, 2003 at 18:02:05:
In Reply to: don't be ridiculous!..... posted by MAYDAY on May 11, 2003 at 21:27:16:
:First of all it IS a striped mud turtle not a stinkpot but.......
:saying that it should be released is silly! The odds of it surviving are quite small. Besides, it is not like it was purchased from a commercial collector. Making an issue about somebody finding and keeping a hatchling mud turtle is being pretty militant. How many of us started keeping turtles because of a hatchling we caught. I for one became interested in reptiles BECAUSE of a hatchling striped mud turtle.
:Give them a break and be encouraging!
I agree with you mayday, I also became interested in chelonians due in part to finding and keeping wild caught individuals. In this country, collecting an occasional wild turtle for a personal collection will hardly do any damage to the wild population. Development, logging, farming and other forms of habitat destruction results in the elimination of whole animal populations. That's what should worry our fellow animal lovers. I live in South Florida where habitat destruction has been perhaps the worst! Luckily though, with the exception of the gopher tortoise, I think our turtle population is fairly good(personal observation).
I do agree however that, when possible, one should purchase from captive breeders. I've promoted that since before most of you were born!
Keep the little mud turtle. They make wonderful pets!
