Illegal tortoise?

Our neighbor found a tortoise and brought it over to our house. My son has had a great time with it...he/she is brown and has pentagon shapes on his shell. His legs are rough and he is about 4 inches tall and 6 inches long. He seems very tame. He ate grapes and spinach and grass.

He was in our back yard last night. We can't find him this morning.
Is is illegal to keep him if we do find him?

Comments for Illegal tortoise?

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Jun 15, 2013
 great pet
by: Anonymous

I've had one for years. I found him wandering across the road in Mojave Desert. He is very tame and very healthy and loves to interact with people. I just love him
Feb 19, 2010
 Yes. It is illegal.
by: Anonymous

As the others have said, the legality of collecting a desert tortoise will depend on your location.

It is illegal to collect desert tortoises from the wild in California and Arizona, under federal and state laws, respectively.

Give it some thought. You're effectively removing an individual from the native population. That will have impacts! From a population perspective, the tortoise you collect is 'dead'. It will not contribute to maintaining a healthy population.

Keep wildlife wild.
Apr 13, 2009
 i think its ok
by: JIM

as far as my understanding gose it depends competely on where you live. only tortise that are native to your country are legal to keep...but whos will care? lol if its tamed my guess is it was somes pet as one stage n there fore likey to be legal to keep it :)
Apr 03, 2009
 Tortoise
by: Anonymous

If you live in the UK you may need a licence for him. It is the law to have certain tortoises chipped now. It may be worth taking your new friend down to a local vets and find out if he or she has been chipped already as this will help locate the owners. I know i would be devastated if i lost one of my tortoises. If theres no chip however then apart from posters saying you've found him i see no reason why you wouldnt be able to adopt him aslong as you follow the proper channels etc.
Apr 03, 2009
 illegal tortoise
by: Shelly

You didn't say where you live. Laws are different in different parts of the world.

Check with your local wildlife association, vet, or local tortoise group for the local rules.

Keep it slow and steady.

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