Turtles

Though turtles are usually no threat to humans, some occasional threats do occur. These are often when turtles find their way into our yards and our children or pets discover them and attempt to investigate. A turtle bite can be a very painful injury that can cause severe pain and often will necessitate the need of medical attention. A turtle bite is very strong and exerts a lot of pressure. The bite of a large snapping turtle can sever a human finger. Turtles can cause landscape damage due to digging and nesting. When a nest has been established and eggs incubate you can eventually find yourself with dozens of little turtles in your yard and expensive landscaping. This will be an invite to local predators. Turtles carry a variety of bacteria and disease. The most well known is salmonella. Other harmful bacteria can be transferred as well due to handling. Some of which can cause severe and in some cases life threatening diseases of the human intestinal track.

Turtle species known to inhabit New york:

• Common snapping turtle
• Common musk turtle
• Eastern mud turtle
• Bog turtle
• Wood turtle
• Eastern box turtle
• Northern diamondback turtle
• Eastern redbelly turtle'
• Common map turtle
• Yellowbelly slider
• Red-eared slider
• Painted turtle
• Blanding's Turtle
• Green Turtle
• Atlantic hawksill
• Loggerhead
• Atlantic ridley
• Leatherback
• Eastern spiny softshell