Did you find a red-eared slider outside?

Please leave red-eared sliders found outdoors alone, unless they appear to be ill or injured. Even though red-eared sliders are not native wildlife, if you find them, they should stay put. They cannot be returned to the wild, and it is difficult to find them appropriate homes. 

Note: If a red-eared slider you find outside is ill or injured, contact animal control for that jurisdiction.

Do you want a pet red-eared slider?

Adopt one instead of taking one from the wild or purchasing from a pet store. You can search San Diego Humane Society’s to see when red-eared sliders are available for adoption. Many red-eared sliders that come to us are transferred to San Diego Turtle & Tortoise Society, which is a great resource for caring for all kinds of chelonians.

Do you have a pet red-eared slider you can no longer care for?

We understand there may be circumstances that prevent you from being able to keep your pet, and San Diego Humane Society is here to help. Please try to rehome your turtle with a friend, or contact your local shelter or reptile rescue organization, such as San Diego Turtle & Tortoise Society. It is illegal to abandon a pet — this includes the release of a turtle in California state waterways.

Do you have a pond home?

If you have a pond, you can make a lifesaving difference for a red-eared slider! Pond homes at hotels, golf courses or other private properties that aren’t connected to waterways are ideal for red-eared sliders.