FOX VALLEY, Wis. (WFRV) – Turtles might seem like a low-maintenance pet, but owners at local exotic pet stores argue that the reality is the opposite.
Evers signs bill sending millions to UW athletic programs, addresses NIL rights
Brady Bartel has owned Wild Habitats in Appleton for four years. Often, people come into his store after buying a turtle at a larger commercial pet store, shocked by how much maintenance is required.
“You gotta clean it, feed it and it’s not just something you can get rid of for the next 30 or 40 years,” Bartel said.
Turtles require large habitats, and due to the reptile’s life expectancy, it becomes a decades-long commitment. Bartel said that commitment is something people are not always prepared for, and then brought to smaller pet stores.
“You see a lot of them come back and need to be rehomed,” Bartel said. “I’ve had turnes come back 4 times over.”
When buyers underestimate the care required, the turtle is often surrendered, leaving rescues like J&R Aquatic Animal Rescue to step in.
J&R Aquatic Animal Rescue focuses on finding suitable homes for surrendered pets. John Moyles, director, said turtles are the most surrendered pet they see yearly.
“In a typical year, we see 180 turtles and tortoises come through our doors,” Moyles said.
In Wisconsin, the DNR is introducing a new rule making it illegal to collect wild turtles or frogs to make as pets. While this does not apply to store-bought reptiles, Bartel said it reflects a growing concern about reptile care and protection.
“When they find out it’s a lot more work than they expected, most of those people get rid of the turtle in the first year,” Bartel said. “It’s a high turnaround rate, and it’s not fair to the animal.”
Governor Evers signs bill to allow Tribe-controlled online sports gambling
While it’s unclear if larger retailers are phasing out turtles, Moyles said the conversation about proper care is growing.
“If you get these animals from a retailer or an expo, you have to have a plan for these animals,” Moyles said. “[For] the retailers, I want to call on them to make sure who is buying that they have a plan for the animal.”
