It is considered bad form to release any animal born into captivity, purchased from a show or pet store, or with an unknown history. In many states, it is illegal to release a "pet" of any kind.

Captive reptiles from unknown sources, from a pet store, or from a show where they may have passed through the hands of a wholesaler, may have been exposed to other animals and their pathogons that native populations cannot handle. By releasing a captive of questionable origins, you put native populations at risk.

Here in MD, a "pet" native reptile cannot be released "to the wild", unless permission is obtained from the Department of Natural Resources. Occasionally it is given for things such as snapping turtles kept as pets. However, certain conditions must be met, such as the animal not having come into contact with other reptiles.

Then, you also have an issue with genes of a particular population. Take eastern box turtles, for example. They may occur from MA to Florida, but obviously a population from the swamps of SC will have a different set of genes and a different survival set than a population from the woodlands of MA. By releasing animals not specific to a native population, you risk changing the unique genetic make-up of that population.

It's a big debate, and everyone has their own opinions on this.

Katrina
Maryland

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