Why can't you help baby turtles to the water?

As cute as these babies are, they are protected, and they need the experience of crawling from their nests to the water in order to orient themselves to the world. So stay away. Seriously. Any interference, including getting too close, could disorient them and lead them to crawl away from the water.
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Should you help baby turtles to the water?

Never interfere with hatchlings emerging from nests or crawling along the beach towards the water. Though small, hatchlings are naturally capable of crawling long distances to the water as soon as they emerge from the nest.
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Are you not supposed to touch baby turtles?

It's advisable to stay at a safe distance to avoid trampling the baby turtles. It is also best to allow them to make their way to the ocean without touching or handling them.
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What dangers await the baby sea turtle as it heads to the sea?

Raccoons, coyotes and other predators raid the nests and hatchlings, once they dig their way out, have to crawl to the sea before being snatched up by birds and other animals. Electric lights can disorient them, causing turtles to head the wrong way on the beach instead of following light from the moon and stars.
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Should you rescue baby turtles?

NEVER TAKE A WILD TURTLE HOME AS A PET

The best thing to do when you find a baby turtle is to identify the species and then help get it where it is going. For aquatic turtles, this means finding a nearby body of water, placing them at the edge, and allowing them to enter the water at their own pace.
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How Baby Sea Turtles Find Their Way Home

Can I put my pet turtle in a pond?

Turtles can make an excellent addition to your pond, although they do need considerable care and are not suitable for children. The best type is aquatic, as they will rapidly acclimate themselves to the pond environment.
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What are the chances of a baby turtle surviving?

What is a hatchling's chance of survival? Only about one in 1,000 turtles survive to adulthood. Hatchlings die of dehydration if they don't make it to the ocean fast enough. Birds, crabs, and other animals also prey on the young turtles.
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Do baby turtles find their mom?

Mother turtles do not care for their young. Once the eggs have been laid, the mother has done her job and returns to her pond. The young turtles are completely independent from the moment they hatch.
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Why are you not supposed to touch sea turtles?

Attempting to closely approach or touch marine animals, like otters, seals, dolphins, sea turtles, or manta rays could seriously injure them, cause them to flee, or evoke aggressive behavior, using up the precious energy they need to perform basic life activities.
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How long can baby sea turtles be out of water?

This depends on HOW small they are, and how old they are. A baby turtle can't go more than a couple of days without water, and not more than a week or two without food.
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Why are turtles under 4 inches illegal?

In fact, the sale of tiny pet turtles has been banned in the US since 1975 because of the number of illnesses they cause and the risk to children. Although any turtle can carry germs, tiny turtles are especially risky because children are more likely to handle them and get sick.
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Do baby turtle bites hurt?

Even babies of this species can bite painfully hard. But juveniles and adults are masters of biting really, really hard. And their upper mandible makes for a dandy cutting tool for biting through bones.
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How many baby turtles survive after hatching?

Once in the water, hatchlings are consumed by seabirds and fish. Few survive to adulthood, with estimates ranging from one in 1,000 to one in 10,000.
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How do baby turtles know to run to the water?

Once the baby turtles emerge from the nest, they use cues to find the water including the slope of the beach, the white crests of the waves, and the natural light of the ocean horizon.
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How do you keep a baby turtle happy?

Turtles enjoy swimming, basking in the sun, and being active. Turtles also grow. Therefore, providing lots of space for your turtle to enjoy these activities and giving room to grow is important in making your turtle happy. Research the potential mature size of your turtle and buy a tank that will reflect his growth.
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How do baby turtles know to go to the water?

Instead, they learn their way using a number of different cues: visual cues (light), kinetic cues (wave motion) and finally, magnetic ones, that let them make their way to the ocean and, eventually, navigate their way home.
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What are the chances of getting Salmonella from a turtle?

Even if you have a Salmonella positive turtle, which you most likely do, the risk of catching it is minimal if you take good care of your turtle and practice basic hygiene. For more information about Salmonella and reptiles, visit the Association of Reptile and Amphibian Veterinarians.
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Why you should leave turtles alone?

Turtles have small home territories and should be left where they are found. Their survivability depends on it! Don't ever keep a wild turtle as a pet. If you truly desire a pet reptile and can make all of the commitments necessary to keeping a healthy, happy herp, please look into adopting.
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Why is it illegal to touch turtles in Hawaii?

All sea turtles in Hawai'i are protected by the Endangered Species Act (ESA) and additionally protected by Hawai'i Revised Statutes Chapter 195D (HRS) and Hawai'i Administrative Rules (HAR) 13-124.
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Do turtles bury their babies?

No, they don't. Female sea turtles dig a big hole in the sand, lay their eggs, and swim right back into the ocean. The baby sea turtles are later hatched, and survive on their own. After they hatch out of their egg, they scurry down the sand and into the ocean alone.
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How can you tell if a baby turtle is alive?

If you need to know NOW, touch its feet. If alive, it should move it, if not, try again a few times. If even then its doesn't move it feet, your turtle is dead.
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What is the average lifespan of a turtle?

Lifespan of Turtles. The average lifespan of a turtle or tortoise is highly dependent on the species. Some species may only live 10 to 20 years in captivity, while others can live up to 150 years. In general, most turtle and tortoise species can live well into their 50s if provided appropriate care.
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What is the longest lifespan of a turtle?

Longest-Lived Reptile: The Giant Tortoise (300 Years)

And these turtles have lifespans that perfectly match their 500- to 1,000-pound weights: giant tortoises in captivity have been known to live longer than 200 years, and there's every reason to believe that testudines in the wild regularly hit the 300-year mark.
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What is the shortest life span of a turtle?

The chicken turtle is one of the shortest-lived turtles in the world. Wild chicken turtles have been recaptured up to 15 years after their first capture, with some reaching an estimated maximum age of 20–24 years.
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