Red eared slider laws State and federal

Medford MA

Description

Mass State Law: One turtle, the Red-eared Slider, will no longer be legal to keep in Massachusetts. This turtle has been prohibited because unwanted pets were released so often that they have now become established as a breeding non-native turtle in several areas of the state. Any existing pet slider will be grandfathered and may continue to be kept for the rest of its life, but the owner should keep a date-stamped clear, in-focus photo of its belly (plastron) as documentation. Commonwealth of Massachusetts. Federal Law: Federal law states that “viable turtle eggs and live turtles with a carapace length of less than 4 inches shall not be sold, held for sale, or offered for any other type of commercial or public distribution.”