Louisiana Turtle Laws

[Todd Stockwell]

Here’s a link to a web page for a commercial turtle farm in Louisian that describes their “salmonella free” treatment process of RES eggs to meet state of Louisiana health department laws for the export of pet turtles (a very big business in Louisiana). Their “Turtles Page” below has a picture of their processing set up where they use a method developed by Louisiana university scientists to treat live turtle eggs for salmonella. http://www.laturtles.com/page3.html The federal “four inch law” was re-stated in the federal registry in 2000 accoring to this week’s Herp Digest on-line newsletter where the full text is reprinted. It does prohibit the sale of turtles under four inches and viable eggs for pets, but has provisions for scientific, educational, and exhibition purposes and also for trade not done as a business. Although it’s available in many places, if anyone wants to see the federal text, I just saved the latest Herp Digest and could copy it if needed. Of particular interest for this group, concerning Louisiana, is that diamondback terrapins cannot be taken by trapping at any time and they cannot be taken between April 15 and June 15. Todd in Texas

[Jason Williamson]

I recall reading in Aqauaculture magazine an article about the red ear slider farms. It described the the salmonella free process as well and also many other interesting facts about the farms. I will look for this issue of Aquaculture magazine at school tomorrow and hopefully post some of it. ,Jason — Todd Stockwell http://promo.yahoo.com/videomail/

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