The Alberta Wildlife Act and Species at Risk legislation prohibits possession of additional species. The Alberta Health Act and the federal Plant Protection Act basically prohibited the import or sale of sliders, cooters, painted, map, and snapping turtles. Changes to the Wildlife Act made most turtles legal to own.
As a Red Eared Slider, Dobbie is a unique turtle because in Alberta it’s illegal to sell Red Eared Sliders, so it is rare for us to see one at the shelter; and they require some unique care as well.
It’s illegal to sell or distribute pet turtles with shells less than 4 inches long because they spread salmonella.
Never take a turtle (or any wild animal) home with you; not only is this illegal in Ontario, but it is also damaging to wild turtle populations.These non-native species often carry diseases that can be deadly to our own turtles. Also, the competition they present is also detrimental to Ontario’s turtles.
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The painted turtle is the only turtle species native to Alberta. In Canada, their range extends from Lake Nipigon in Ontario, to Vancouver Island. In Alberta, hey are found in a few locations in Southern Alberta, in the Milk River drainage basin, Cypress Hills, the upper Oldman River.
They may not be sold or purchased or possessed in Alberta,” Brand added. They were sold with a 10-gallon tank, heat lamps and turtle pellets. The person in possession of the turtles is being asked to turn them in to the Alberta Fish and Wildlife office in Fort McMurray.
Tiny turtles are especially risky and are illegal to sell as pets in the US. CDC investigates many Salmonella outbreaks linked to pet reptiles.In fact, the sale of tiny pet turtles has been banned in the US since 1975 because of the number of illnesses they cause and the risk to children.
Tortoise and turtles
Since most people can’t differentiate between kinds of tortoise, it’s easy to get misled into buying or owning an endangered species. The Indian Star Tortoise and the Red Ear Slider are among a few types of reptiles that are unsuitable for rearing in an apartment space, and illegal to own.
There are no methods guaranteed to rid turtles of salmonella, notes that CDC. “All turtles, regardless of [shell] size, should be handled as though they are infected with salmonella,” says the CDC in its Morbidity and Mortality Weekly Report.
The Alberta Health Act and the federal Plant Protection Act basically prohibited the import or sale of sliders, cooters, painted, map, and snapping turtles. Changes to the Wildlife Act made most turtles legal to own. Other provinces have different laws.Turtles, like other reptiles, commonly carry Salmonella.
Your local Petco will have their live turtles for sale in a habitat that is conducive to helping them thrive. If you still want a carapace chum, but don’t want a pet who’s always wet, than check out Petco’s live tortoises for sale.
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Turtles have very little smell, except for the general smell of a reptile which isn’t a strong odor.It’s important that you keep your turtle and their environment clean so they are not able to smell and to prevent bacteria from growing.
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The western painted turtle is the only native representative of the Family Emydidae in Alberta.
Pythons a no-no as pets in Alberta.
While garter snakes are abundant in the wild, especially around bodies of water, such as lakes and streams, in Canada, the U.S., Mexico, and Central America, these wild animals should not be kept as pets, as they are illegal to take from their natural habitats in most locales.
Illegal collection has been documented for every turtle species at risk in Canada in recent years, as well as the Massasauga rattlesnake, Eastern Foxsnake, Butler’s Gartersnake, and several other reptile species. In some cases, species-at-risk turtles were indiscriminately collected along with common species for food.
If your female turtle is between 6 and 8 inches long, she is likely 5 to 7 years old and is considered an adult. If your male red-eared slider is 4 inches long, he’s between 3 and 5 years old and has likely reached sexual maturity.
Turtles are one of the oldest kinds of reptiles on the planet. Their hard shell and slow-moving mannerisms make them unique pets. They’re hardy creatures and can be fun to care for. They may seem like low-maintenance pets, but most turtle species can live for decades, which makes them a lifelong commitment.