A reptile rescue group has a warning about minature pet turtles which are being sold along some Denver streets. They may be cute, but the turtles are expensive to care for and illegal in many cases.
Tents selling the turtles have been popping up all over the Denver metro area. CBS4 went to one on Federal Boulevard and Florida, where street vendors were selling them for rock bottom prices. Sadie Bustam, 13, told CBS4 she got hers for $10.
Experts say a turtle of such a small size won’t survive cold winter temperatures without a $300 thermal tank.
Federal law also prohibits the sale of turtles less than 4 inches long because of the possibility of salmonella poisoning. Some children might be tempted to put their mouths on the small creatures.
Bustam said she wants vendors to stop selling the animals.
“I want them to be totally gone, the stands, and them to get in trouble for doing it,” she said.
The vendors always seem to close up shop before authorities can get to them.
Rocky Mountain Reptile Rescue is taking in some of the animals.