DOC Ranger Matthew Brady says a red-eared slider turtle is a pet for life.
"Many people don't realise they can grow to the size of a dinner plate and potentially live for up to 50 years, so the turtle you buy for your kids could still be alive when they're in their 50s.
"Turtles need facilities to accommodate their size and habitat requirements, which means a large, heated aquarium or their own secure outdoor pond. The ongoing costs of caring for these turtles are high and require a committed owner."
Matthew says there are no native freshwater turtles in New Zealand, so any turtle seen in the wild is an escaped exotic species.
"Red-eared slider turtles are invasive and damage freshwater ecosystems, eating a significant amount of plants, fish, and birds over their long lives. Females also produce hundreds of eggs, so turtles can become a big problem relatively quickly.
"We have breeding populations of turtles in the wild, but they currently only produce males. However, the sex of turtle offspring is linked to temperature, so a warmer climate could result in female offspring, and create a self-sustaining wild population.
"Our native fish and other species are in enough trouble without pressure from this invasive species."
If you see a turtle in the wild, take a photo and record it on iNaturalist or the Find-A-Pest app. This information will help DOC and regional councils find out how many turtles are currently living in our waterways and wetlands, and guide our work to manage them.
