Hi, if you are in an area that is native to them you should return it to the wild ASAP in a safe area. They live a long time and are not the easiest to care for. They are definately not a child's pet. I am not saying that you will not care for it properly but it is a long term commitment. If you choose to keep it you need to do a lot of research. I have owned reptiles for 10 + years now and they have proven to me a challenge for me. Also depending on what kind of turtle it is it may be protected in your state.

Hope this helps
Linda