Just wanted to say that I support what your doing for the most part although I don't completely agree with the part about captive breeding being difficult, hatchlings being hard to keep, etc., and I feel very strongly that captive breeding should be encouraged not only so captive bred turtles are available for pets but also for headstarting hatchlings in order to boost wild populations(as part of an orgainized effort).
When you talk about the numbers in the pet trade, I am not seeing large numbers of box turtles in the pet trade in my state. I know of one pet store that carries a small number or them. I've never seen any north american box turtles in my local petsmart, I've seen an asian box turtle there recently. We had a reptile show in our city this summer and there was only one vendor that had any box turtles and they were captive bred gulf coast box turtles. Yet, there is an ad in the classifieds by someone who is selling 3 toeds and ornates by the hundreds and, if these are wild caught (as I have to assume at this point), this is sickening! Where are they going? I had been under the impression that it was illegal to export box turtles out of the country, but I read something recently that made me think that I might have been misinformed. If it is still legal to export box turtles by the hundreds, I would think that is something that needs to be stopped asap! As relatively few box turtles that I see in the US pet trade, I can't imagine, who would buy box turtles by the hundreds, unless they are exporting them overseas.
I do hope I am wrong. I realize that just because I don't see it in my area doesn't mean it doesn't happen somewhere else, but based on what I see locally and on online pet shops, reptiles shops, etc., I just don't see where these 1000s of w/c turtles are going.
I do think its important to protect the rights(where they exist)
to possess box turtles for personal interests, mainly because I know several people in my city and state that have backyard herds in suburban areas. In some cases people have constructed pens, that ensure they don't escape. In other cases, the turtles are attracted to the backyards due to the landscaping, etc., and they choose to stay there. These turtles are at great risk for death and injury by cars, lawnmowers, etc., and I feel that people who choose to keep turtles they find in suburban neighborhoods (provided that they are willing to create an outdoor habitat and take very good care of them) are actually protecting the few remaining suburban turtles and increasing the likelyhood that they will reproduce. In all the situations I know of, the turtles are reproducing. Some don't go to great lengths to protect the eggs and babies (ie: protect the nest or incubate, contain the hatchlings), and some do. Anyway, I do think this right needs to be protected, at the same time I would hope people would resist the temptation to take one from a wilderness area, where the habitat is good and there is no threat of impending developement.
I know of one business that breeds 3 toeds box turtles for the pet trade (and I think they sell to individuals) in our state.
I would think if more people did that, it would be a good thing. In my state it is legal to possess, but not legal to sell wild caught turtles. Clealy, Texas doens't have any laws pertaining to this, by the numbers of wild caught box turtles I see in the classifieds. I hope this can happen for texas, but at the same time I hope it doesn't go overboard and go against the rights of hobbyists.
I'll post a link to the box turtle farm in our state.....
Granny's Hillside Farm
