The law in New York
All native New York turtles are protected and cannot be kept as pets, bought or sold. The only open season is for snapping turtles, which you can harvest with a licence from July 15 to September 30. Non-native pet turtles such as red-eared sliders are not regulated by DEC, but releasing any animal into the wild needs a DEC permit.
Selling. Protected native turtles, including spotted, wood, box and painted turtles, cannot be bought, sold, offered for sale or transported in New York, even if they came from another state (ECL 11-0107). Unprotected non-native turtles may be sold; DEC says state public health law also requires a shell longer than 4 inches.
Keeping. DEC says native turtles cannot be kept without a DEC permit for specific purposes and never as pets. Bog and Blanding's turtles are listed endangered and threatened. No state permit found for non-native species unless they are federally listed as endangered or threatened.
Wild turtles. 6 NYCRR 3.2 lists 17 native turtle species, all life stages including eggs. Only snapping turtles have an open season, July 15 to September 30, minimum 12 inch straight-line carapace, 5 per day and 30 per season, with a hunting or trapping licence. Every other native turtle has no open season.
Release. DEC's reptile FAQ says releasing any wildlife, fish or shellfish into the wild requires a special permit from DEC, and releasing an unwanted pet turtle is not legal.
Who to ask. New York State Department of Environmental Conservation. Federal law bars the sale of any turtle under 4 inches as a pet everywhere; see the 4-inch rule.
Sources: 6 NYCRR 3.2 Native turtles (6 NYCRR 3.2); DEC reminds New Yorkers to give turtles a brake (May 2026) (NYSDEC press release); New York Turtle and Tortoise Society: NYS reptile and amphibian laws FAQ (ECL 11-0103; ECL 11-0107); New York Turtle and Tortoise Society: DEC regulations overview (ECL 11-0107(2)). Last checked November 5, 2026. Our confidence in this summary: high. This is a plain-English reading, not legal advice; the agency has the final word.
Reptile vets
- Cornell University Hospital for Animals, Exotic Pet ServiceIthaca, New York
University teaching hospital service for birds, exotic mammals, reptiles and amphibians, with emergency care and a monitored ward. Lists reptile egg stasis treatment and fracture repair; does not see venomous snakes. 607-253-3060.
- Long Island Bird and Exotics Veterinary ClinicGreat Neck, New York
Hospital devoted entirely to avian and exotic pets, serving Long Island and New York City. Reptile and amphibian patients include sliders, turtles, tortoises, bearded dragons, geckos, iguanas and snakes. 516-482-1101.
- Old Country Animal ClinicPlainview, New York
Long Island practice that also acts as a referral centre for avian, reptile, small mammal and other exotic pets. Its avian veterinarian is a board certified ABVP avian specialist. 516-938-7218.
- Specialized Care for Avian and Exotic PetsClarence, New York
Exotic animal hospital east of Buffalo, by appointment only. Reptile and amphibian patients include bearded dragons, water dragons, iguanas, chameleons, geckos, monitors, skinks, non-venomous snakes, aquatic turtles and box turtles. 716-759-0144.
- The Animal Medical Center, Zoological and Companion Exotic Pet MedicineNew York, New York
Referral and primary care service at a 24 hour hospital on the Upper East Side. Treats non-venomous reptiles, birds, rabbits, rodents and amphibians; team includes a reptile and amphibian board certified veterinarian and offers beak trims for turtles and tortoises. 212-838-8100.
Rescues and adoption
- Hudson Valley Reptile and RescueSaugerties, New York
Reptile rescue that rehabilitates and rehomes displaced reptiles after an application review, open by appointment. As of September 2026 it was not accepting surrenders, and the site does not list turtles or tortoises specifically. Ships: local adoption only. 845-206-1689.
- New York Turtle and Tortoise SocietyWhite Plains, New York
Nonprofit society focused on turtle and tortoise conservation, husbandry and education, with meetings in Manhattan. Adoption and placement notices go out to members by email; the society says it has no local homes for red-eared sliders at present. Ships: placement through members only.
- Turtle Rescue of Long IslandCentereach, New York
Nonprofit founded in 2004 that takes in injured, ill or unwanted turtles and tortoises, releases native turtles when possible and places pets through an adoption application. Space is limited and red-eared sliders are no longer accepted. Ships: local adoption only.
Breeders and stores
- Jungle Bob's Reptile WorldSelden, New York
Long Island reptile store open daily that sells tortoises, turtles, lizards, snakes, amphibians, feeders and supplies, with in-store pickup, local delivery and nationwide shipping of supplies. Ships: local pickup; ships supplies nationwide. 631-737-6474.
Sellers that ship here
- LLLReptile and SupplyOceanside, California
Reptile retailer with eight stores in California, Arizona and Nevada, including Oceanside, Escondido, Menifee, San Diego, Chandler, Glendale, Henderson and Las Vegas, that stocks tortoises and turtles along with other reptiles and supplies. Also sells and ships animals online. Ships: ships nationally; store pickup available. 760-439-8496.
- My Turtle StorePort Richey, Florida
Online seller of aquatic turtles, tortoises, food and supplies that says it has operated for over 40 years and changed ownership in late 2024. Live animals ship by air only within the contiguous United States and are held when forecast lows are below 38 F. No statement about the FDA 4-inch rule or animal sizes was found on the pages read. Ships: contiguous US only. 656-777-1509.
- Snakes at SunsetMiami, Florida
Online seller of captive-bred reptiles with a Miami address that lists turtles such as pink-bellied side-necks and Fly River turtles plus a tortoise category. Ships FedEx Priority Overnight to all states except Alaska, Hawaii and the District of Columbia, and its turtle page cites the federal rule against selling turtles under 4 inches, with 4 inch juveniles offered. Ships: all states except AK, HI and DC.
- XYZ ReptilesPalmetto Bay, Florida
Breeder and online retailer of captive-bred reptiles with turtle and tortoise categories, shipping overnight on Tuesdays and Wednesdays with a live arrival guarantee. Does not ship to Alaska, Hawaii or Puerto Rico, and its turtle page states that turtles and tortoises under 4 inches are offered for educational, scientific or export purposes only, not as pets. Ships: all states except AK and HI. 305-305-5998.
- New England Reptile DistributorsPlaistow, New Hampshire
Reptile breeder and shop known as NERD, with a facility in Plaistow that offers tours and sells pythons, boas, lizards and other animals in person and online with priority shipping. Its terms state that turtles and tortoises are sold for scientific or educational purposes only. Ships: ships nationally; pickup in Plaistow. 603-382-2772.
- Redfoot RanchAlice, Texas
Home-based breeder of red-footed and other tortoises and turtles, formerly in Wimauma, Florida and now in Alice, Texas, selling hatchlings and other sizes by mail order. Ships throughout the continental United States and to Alaska, with pickup possible near Corpus Christi, and its terms state that tortoises and turtles under 4 inches are offered for scientific or educational purposes only. Ships: continental US and AK. 727-421-5542.
- ReptmartOnline
Online seller of captive-bred reptiles only, with turtle and tortoise categories. Live animals ship FedEx Overnight Monday to Wednesday with a live arrival guarantee, not to Alaska, Hawaii or the District of Columbia, and its terms state that all turtles and tortoises under 4 inches are sold for scientific or educational purposes only. Ships: all states except AK, HI and DC.
- Reptile RaptureMonona, Wisconsin
Reptile store on Monona Drive near Madison open seven days a week, selling reptiles and invertebrates from its own breeding room plus supplies and feeders, with shipping available and a reptile rescue program. The site does not list turtles or tortoises specifically. Ships: ships nationally; pickup in Monona. 608-221-0094.
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