Turtles thrown out by owners 'captured' New York parks: city residents sound the alarm

We are talking about the red-eared turtle, wreaking havoc on the ponds of New York and destroying city parks. They not only crowd out local reptiles, but also pose a threat to visitors. This publication writes New York Post.

“They are everywhere.”

To date, red-eared turtles have flooded the Harlem pond Morningside and Central Park. They occupy the lawns where local turtles live, taking food from the latter. This was told by Allen Salzberg (Allen Salzberg) from the non-profit organization New York Turtle and Tortoise Society.

Uninvited residents of the park not only disturb the peace of local reptiles, but also pose a threat to visitors. They, unlike local turtles, are carriers of salmonella. This can endanger people who touch them. The fact is that these bacteria multiply only in the human body and provoke very serious symptoms of intoxication. The infection is of particular relevance in the hot season, when the bacterium can be found not only in food, but also in the sea or lake.

How turtles appeared in city parks

The muddy pond is teeming with reptiles, because irresponsible owners abandoned them there, the expert notes.

In the Big Apple, this species of turtles comes from the Gulf of Mexico and is the most popular in the American pet trade.

“People think, 'Oh, I shouldn't feel guilty, I will throw them out into the wild,' but unfortunately, there is no such thing as a wild pond in Central Park,” Salzberg said.

The townspeople are indignant

Visitors to the park on Sunday, February 23, demanded that the city authorities influence the situation. “Someone has to control this,” said Mark Zuyen of the Upper East Side. "There is an ecosystem here, and you cannot disturb it."

Wayne Shelby, who was walking with two Basset Hounds in the park, added: “It's a weird thing. It's like iguanas in Florida - they've taken over.

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Between 1989 and 1997, more than 52 million red-eared turtles were legally exported from the United States. Today, these reptiles are sold on the black market through street vendors, as well as simply online.

“The solution is to catch the turtles and euthanize them, and then wait until the native turtles return,” Salzberg said.

About red-eared turtles

Trafficking turtles, which now live in the wild in almost all states, including Hawaii, got their name thanks to the red marks on their heads that resemble ears. This is a fairly well-known type of turtles, which can be found in almost any pet store. However, many of the potential buyers are poorly aware of what kind of reptiles are and how to care for them.

The New York City Parks Department called on people to "never let out unnecessary pets in any of the city parks."