Red ear slider in Michigan

[tortoise_man2]

I live next to a large system of wetlands, and it is absolutely teaming with turtles. I have found red eared sliders there, and i am pretty sure that they are not native. Are they able to survive the temperatures up here? I really want to know if i should bring them home to prevent them harm, or if they can survive well in our Michigan temps...


David S.

 

[wellington]

Leave them where they are.
https://www.michigan.gov/dnr/0,4570,7-153-10370_12145_12201-60656--,00.html

 

[tortoise_man2]

Wellington, they are not native to my area of Michigan, and does that article even have anything to do with what i brought up?


David S.

 

[tortoise_man2]

Well it is a Michigan species, but i am well out of its range, as in several hundred miles out of its range.


David S.

 

[Diamondbacks4Life]

They can survive, yes but if you can find new homes for them since there not supposed to be there go ahead and take them.

 

[tortoise_man2]

Ok, thank you


David S.

 

[Redfoot NERD]

Red-ear sliders have been found "everywhere" that they can tolerate the temps.. which is where most humans live ---- being introduced by those that no longer want them because they get big fast, etc.,etc. They were common in N. Indiana in the late '50's

Make sense?

Wellington, they are not native to my area of Michigan, and does that article even have anything to do with what i brought up?


David S.

Yes it most definately does.. had you clicked on the "Red-eared slider" link you would have seen they describe it as native [ now ].. otherwise why would they mention it as a Michigan species?

Thanks Wellington......................... oh well.

 

[KevinGG]

I've found RES from the Bahamas to New York to New Mexico to California to Texas. They are everywhere! I'm sure they'll be fine in michigan

 

[Yvonne G]

Wellington, they are not native to my area of Michigan, and does that article even have anything to do with what i brought up?


David S.

Yes, it does. If you scroll down to the bottom of the article it lists the Michigan species:

Blanding's Turtle (Emydoidea blandingii)

• Common Map Turtle (Graptemys geographica)

• Common Musk Turtle (Sternotherus odoratus)

• Common Snapping Turtle (Chelydra serpentina)

• Eastern Box Turtle (Terrapene carolina carolina)

• Painted Turtle (Chrysemys picta)

• Red-eared Slider (Trachemys scripta elegans)

• Spiny Soft-shell Turtle (Apalone spinifera spinifera)

• Spotted Turtle (Clemmys guttata)

• Wood Turtle (Clemmys insculpta)

 

[Diamondbacks4Life]

When you actually click the res for further details. It says: Range and Status: Found in Muskegon and Lansing areas, Oakland County, and perhaps elsewhere. Possibly introduced through pet trade importation.

Which answer would clearly be yes introduced. Way outside range where res originated.

 

[wellington]

Yes, reason I posted it, it does answer your question. They should be left where they are. They can survive the winters there and although may have been introduced to Michigan, they are well adapted to living in the wild there and should be left alone.

 

[Redfoot NERD]

There's an echo in the house!!!!!

I'm sure man2 is really glad he pointed out his short-sidedness about now...

 

[wellington]

Except he took ahold of the one answer he was waiting for. To take them and rehome them. I'm thinking he has a yard full of RES by now

 

[compassrose26]

I think naturalized would be the correct term instead of native, although the definitions of those terms can be loose. There is definitely some different opinions on whether to leave them or not because they seem to be out competing native turtle species in Michigan-some threatened species included. Not a fun situation!

 

[wellington]

True, very true. Although I'm not big into keeping up on them, wild turtles, has Michigan or any place else ever reported them being a problem? Just wondering if it's been noticed.

 

[compassrose26]

Here are a few articles I found. I'm sure there are better ones out there but you can get the gist of it
http://www.brisbane.qld.gov.au/envi...als-invasive-species/red-eared-slider-turtles
This one has a map http://ucanr.edu/blogs/blogcore/postdetail.cfm?postnum=11552
http://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pmc/articles/PMC3956645/#

 

[wellington]

I don't understand why they still let pet stores sell them. At least they should probably stop in the states/areas they are not native seeing they are causing problems. Everyone with a clue about turtles does also know about the sad situation of the cute little RES being dumbed at adulthood. I hate the thought of them being destroyed, I like them.
I know in Chicago you could still buy them in the Petco's and Petsmart up until a couple years ago. Haven't seen any for sale really since. Same up in the part of Michigan I'm from.

 

[wellington]

BTW , thanks for the links

 

[compassrose26]

I have seen them for sale in michigan.

 

[Grandpa Turtle 144]

David what part of Michigan are you from that gets so cold that a RES can't last through a winter to enjoy Mi .summer fishing


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