Yesterday my son was riding his bike down by a local river, when he spotted something scurrying along the roadside. It was a teeny, tiny, itty-bitty baby painted turtle!!! This little guy is literally the size of a nickel, surely just born this spring. Tiny little head, eensy little claws--he makes my eyes tear up just to look at him! I see adorable baby animals all the time, but this lil' critter takes the cake. Up til now, the turtles we find are always palm-sized at least. We're debating what to do with him; set him loose back where we found him, (the right thing to do, but he will undoubtedly be fish food right away) or raise him up a while til he's bigger, and has a better chance of survival. Hard to put him back, knowing he has slim chances of living very long. What do you all think?

-- Shannon at Grateful Acres Animal Sanctuary (gratacres@aol.com), April 19, 2002

Answers

Well Shannon, you are the creature queen! I don't think turtles bond with their momma, so why not keep him? But do watch out for salmonella....I've read on several occasions that turtles are carriers. Have fun! Sue

-- Sue (sulandherb@aol.com), April 19, 2002.

The salmonelia risk can be bad. To this day if I come in contact with one I have to reserve a "four holer" with a Charmin truck parked next door and cancel all plans for a few days :>)

-- Jay Blair in N. AL (jayblair678@yahoo.com), April 19, 2002.

My son had kept one all summer when he was young but I alway make him let them go mid fall so they can find there own place for the winter. We use to love to watch him eat fireflys in the dark because his lips would glow :) he also eat grashopers moths and the like.

-- Teresa (c3ranch@socket.net), April 19, 2002.

I like Teresa's idea. Keep him for the summer and let him go in the fall with enough time to adjust before winter.

-- Bren (wayoutfarm@skybest.com), April 19, 2002.

Shannon, firstly get on a good Reptile forum and learn about this little guy(Kingsnake Reptile Forum is excellant and of course there is a place just for turtles, just click on it). It's important that you feed it correctly and prepare it for a life in the wild once you turn it loose. ( http://www.kingsnake.com/forum/turtle/ ) You are right, they are just adorable. I rehabbed a little western pond turtle four years ago and it is now living in our pond and now has a friend. It is fun seeing them survive after release. Good luck with the little guy. LQ

-- Little Quacker (carouselxing@juno.com), April 19, 2002.

Heh heh! Shannon.....after your TOO funny phone call last night I just KNEW this was your post.....LOL!

I agree. I'd keep him over the summer and let him loose in the early fall. I would think he'd be a little bigger and more likely to make it. :o)

-- lisa - MI (formyacds@aol.com), April 19, 2002.

Update: Teeny-tiny-turtle went to live in an ornamental pond at the neighbor's house. Bug larvae and pollywogs galore. And when he wants to, he can climb out and move on. We feel good about the decision to free him. Thanks for all the tips. (P.S. This neighbor had a newborn lamb for us to take home cuz the mama rejected it. So, we still get to have a baby to love!)

-- Shannon at Grateful Acres Animal Sanctuary (gratacres@aol.com), April 19, 2002.

When I first read that headline I thought you was talking about me!

-- r.h. in okla. (rhays@sstelco.com), April 19, 2002.

I don't know what state you're in but in TN it is illegal to keep a turtle. The reason is because of the salmonella.

-- Emil in TN (eprisco@usit.net), April 19, 2002.

About 8 years ago one of my sons found a baby mud turtle about the size of a half dollar. We kept him in a fish tank for almost two years. He enjoyed hamburger alot. When he was about 4 inches across we took him to a local city lake and let him go. It never hurts to help nature out as long as you know when to let go.

-- Theresa Thompson (tomteesa55@yahoo.com), April 22, 2002.

I wish you had taken a picture of it for us to see!

-- Suzanne in NH (s_tudor@hotmail.com), April 22, 2002.