Are box turtle illegal in Alabama?
In Alabama, you may keep only one as a pet. It is illegal to buy, sell, or trade a box turtle or its parts for anything of value. The best practice is to enjoy them in the wild and appreciate their role in the environment.
What kind of turtle do I have Alabama?
Emydid Turtles – Family Emydidae
| Southern Painted Turtle | Eastern Painted Turtle |
| Barbour’s Map Turtle | Escambia Map Turtle |
| Black-knobbed Sawback | Ouachita Map Turtle |
| Mississippi Diamondback Terrapin | Alabama Red-bellied Turtle (endangered) |
| Florida Cooter | Eastern Box Turtle |
Are Eastern box turtles endangered in Alabama?
STATUS: Common to locally uncommon or rare statewide. While they have declined over the past two decades, box turtles still are frequently encountered (especially after rains) in, or near, forested areas.
Do box turtles live in water?
Box turtles are partially aquatic, spending the greater part of their time on dry land within easy range of shallow fresh water. They do, however, require plenty of fresh shallow water. While this water is generally used for rehydration and voiding body wastes, some turtles also eat aquatic plants and insects.
Do Eastern box turtles bite?
They rarely snap, hiss or bite like many other turtles, so children are often allowed to keep one as a pet for a few hours or days. Box turtles will quickly eat a meal of fresh tomatoes, cantaloupe or earthworms, and after we’ve enjoyed observing them for a while, they can be released unharmed back where they were …
Can you catch turtles in Alabama?
MOBILE, Ala. — Alabama moved to protect its wealth of diverse, native freshwater turtles when the state’s conservation advisory board voted unanimously to approve emergency regulations banning all commercial collection and killing of wild turtles and their eggs in public and private waters.
What do you do if you find a box turtle in your yard?
NEVER DISTURB, PICK UP , OR MOVE A BOX TURTLE UNLESS IT HAS A VISIBLE INJURY OR IS IN IMMINENT DANGER. If you find a turtle in the road, move it to the other side in the direction it was going. DO NOT ATTEMPT TO RELOCATE IT. Turtles have small home territories and should be left where they are found.
What kind of turtles are found in Alabama?
The red-bellied turtle is a member of the Emydidae family, more commonly known as pond or marsh turtles, that contains more than 80 species worldwide. This family includes more common North American species found in Alabama, such as the eastern box turtle ( Terrapene carolina carolina) and the painted turtle ( Chrysemys picta ).
How big does an Alabama redbelly turtle get?
How big it can get: Alabama Redbelly turtles are average sized compared to most turtles, reaching sizes between 10 and 14 inches. Where it lives: They can be found in all kind of slow moving, and still bodies of water. But in general they prefer canals and lakes.
When did the Alabama red bellied turtle become endangered?
The Alabama red-bellied turtle was placed on the U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service’s Endangered Species List in 1987 and is of the highest conservation concern. It is also protected under the Nongame Species Regulation by the Alabama Department of Conservation and Natural Resources.