As a whole, you are not allowed by any means to collect wild turtles in New Jersey. NJ is very protective over it's wildlife and while I do not feel that they do enough, they do have strict laws.

In this state you can own for hobby purposes, scientific holding purposes, and wholesale purposes any native emydid species of turtle excluding the Bog Turtle (Glytemys muhlenbergii)due to it's endangered status here. You MUST, however show proof that the animal was obtained legally and not in the state (NJ). The sale of chelonians in NJ is strictly forbidden and there are no exceptions. You can give them away to friends and family as long as it is not commercial. I obtained almost ALL of my animals in 1999 from my Grandfather. He resided in Florida at the time and was unable to care for them any longer. After several letters and correspondences with NJ Fish and Wildlife, they granted me permission to keep North American Wood(Glyptemys insculpta), Spotted(Clemmys guttata), Eastern Box(Terrapene carolina carolina), Eastern Mud(Kinosternon subrubrum subrubrum), and Northern Diamondback Terrapins(Malaclemys terrapin terrapin). The animals were handed down to me and since have been in my care. I speak to Monica Mirranda of Fish&Wildlife a few times a year when something needs to be added, or to make sure I am up to date. All permits expire on December 31st of every year and renewals must be in on time with any changes or you will be subject to fines and penalties.

You are allowed to breed your turtles/tortoises in this state, but they strongly reccomend you have plans for the offspring well before they hatch. Again the sale of these animals is completely illegal in this state, but you may sell them out of state providing the buyer follows their own state regulations. If you have no plans for your baby turtles, they simply suggest that you keep sexes separate to avoid breeding. Every year I hold back certain specimens in each of my groups and add them to my permit accordingly. This way it is never necessary for me purchase potentially wild caught animals from dealers or "breeders". By adding your own offspring to your existing colonies you are safely and legally prolonging the breeding group for generations.

There are two species of turtles that may be kept in NJ WITHOUT any permit and those two are the Eastern Pained Turtle (Chrysemys picta picta) and the Common Snapping Turtle (Chelydra serpentina serpentina). Once again you cannot wild collect them. They can be obtained other ways hopefully captive bred specimens and kept legally.

Wholesale permits to sell your turtles are available as well as Scientific Holding Permits through NJ Fish&Wildlife but they are more expensive than the average Hobby permit for $10 a year with unlimited animals being added to it.

All permit holders are subject to fines and other consequences if a law or reg. is broken and all keepers, breeders, sellers, are subject to inspections of their animals by Fish and Game officers. Sometimes they do send people out to make sure you are doing what you say you are, I personally feel they should do it several times a year. I know a few people who have been fined and it is not cheap. I even know a couple of people who have had their turtles taken from them.

NJ is strict but not hard to follow, make sure you respect what they say and you can keep and even breed these wonderful animals for years to come. Just please do not wild collect, even our abundant species are dissapearing now. Just this past week we counted 151 predated Terrapin nests, 211 road killed Terrapins and 9 road killed Eastern Box Turtles. It's sad to see and even hear about it but there are good people out there doing what they can. I look at my animals in my yard everyday for hours and I'm glad to know they are safe....unfortunatley some out there just aren't.

Hope this helps
-Chris
http://community.webshots.com/user/loon1103

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