I found a gopher turtle.... who do i give him to???

Question

at least I think he is.. Im not sure yet, I found him in the middle of the road yesterday barely moving or using any of his legs. He's better now that I have him, but i didn't realize they were illegal to keep. I live in illinois are they illegal to keep? If so, where do I go or who do I call to come get him

Answer 1

Try Northeast Turtle and Tortoise Rescue in Lake Forest Illinois. This website has a place for you to email them, just scroll down the list and look for the organization

http://www.turtlehomes.org/usa/orgs.shtm...

Answer 2

You can call your local SPCA or a Wildlife Rehabber they will take him. Good Luck...

Answer 3

put the turtle back! you didn't find him cause he wasn't lost he was at HOME! you should have just nicely put him into the woods by the road , not kidnap him! LOL. do the right thing and put him back.

Answer 4

Is the Gopher Tortoise indigenous to Illinois?

Answer 5

well um......yeah put him back

Answer 6

I doubt it's a gopher tortoise. They aren't found anywhere close to Illinois and could not survive an Illinois winter. Probably a box turtle or something else. Please post a picture so it can be properly identified.

EDIT: Okay, I saw where you showed a picture in another question and that is not a gopher tortoise. It is a Hermann's or a Russian tortoise. It is obviously someone's escaped pet. Do not rerelease it. This would be illegal since it's not a native species and wouldn't survive an Illinois winter.

Answer 7

if you found him wild, you should release him wild-assuming that he is not sick or injured.  if he is sick or injured you can call your local wildlife rep, parks & wildlife should be able to direct you in what you should to. Typically though, wild turtles are better off in the wild, and unless they were hit by a car, all you have to do is get them to the otherside(or whereever they were going to begin with) safely and they can take it from there.

Answer 8

you don't have a gopher tortoise (saw your other question) what you have is a Russian tortoise it is probably an escaped pet or one that someone has released, you can't release it as it is not native to where you are and will probably die if your winters are too cold for it