Never Ever Do This To A Turtle Especially In New York

Over the last month or so, no matter where you went in the Hudson Valley, there is a good chance you saw a turtle crossing a road or even your yard. This is the time of year when turtles head out to lay eggs. Unfortunately, some turtles don't make it to their destination, or worse, they get painted.

Why People Would Paint A Turtle Shell

Yes, I said painted. Some people think that by painting a turtle, you make it easier to see; therefore, they are less likely to get run over, but sadly, that is not true, and worse, the paint is very bad for them.

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Recently, I came across a Facebook post from the Woodford Cedar Run Wildlife Refuge in Medford, New Jersey, that shared the story of a box turtle who had been painted with nail polish. How this turtle got covered in pink nail polish is a mystery, but fortunately, it was discovered before too much damage was done.

Woodford Cedar Run Wildlife Refuge via Facebook

Reasons Why You Should Never Paint a Turtle's Shell

So why do you not want to put paint on a turtle's shell? The Woodford Cedar Run Wildlife Refuge shared these four important turtle facts.

1 - A turtle's shell is living tissue. It is part of their skeleton.

2 - The paint blocks UV light. Turtle counts on that light as part of it ability to metabolize calcium through their shells.

3 - Paints and polishes contain toxins. Even when they are dry, they can get into the turtle's system and cause issues, even death.

4 - And last, they need camouflage. Turtles rely on being able to blend in tho their surroundings. This helps keep them safe from predators.

New York Regulations Regarding Turtles

Also, one other fun turtle fact is that it is illegal to keep a wild turtle as a pet. The New York State Department of Environmental Conservation (NYS DEC) also shares some important information regarding turtles, the regulations in New York State, and what to do if you have to handle a wild turtle.

The NYS DEC wants you to know that you never take a wild turtle home and that turtles in New York are protected by Law.

LOOK: Here are the pets banned in each state

Because the regulation of exotic animals is left to states, some organizations, including The Humane Society of the United States, advocate for federal, standardized legislation that would ban owning large cats, bears, primates, and large poisonous snakes as pets.

Read on to see which pets are banned in your home state, as well as across the nation.

Gallery Credit: Elena Kadvany

Source: Urgent Why You Never Ever Do This To A Turtle

Filed Under: Hudson Valley Wildlife