Red-eared Slider

June 30, 2022

Question: I see turtles all the time in the creeks that run through my neighborhood and the small lake at the local park. How can I tell which turtles are invasive? Should I remove the invasives from the water or leave them alone?

Answer: Yes, a fishing license is required for individuals 16 years old and over, and you can capture them using authorized methods named in section 5.60 of CDFW’s freshwater sport fishing regulations. There is no bag limit on sliders and they can be taken to be kept as pets or for food. But know, if you remove a red-eared slider from the wild, you can’t ever release it again – and they can live for up to 40 years in captivity, which is quite a commitment!

If your goal for removing them would be to benefit the environment, we recommend you work with the agency or organization responsible for managing the given waterbody. For restoration purposes, authorization to remove non-native turtles can be granted in consultation with CDFW staff.

CDFW’s Invasive Species Program compiles reports of sliders and other invasive species to help inform management efforts, so we encourage you to report sightings along with a photo to CDFW at invasive species sighting report. If your sighting took place in a waterway where red-eared sliders weren’t previously known to exist, this information is especially useful to biologists.