Stamford Animal Care & Control Shelter Director Laurie Hollywood warned Monday about a menace discovered crawling along Stamford roads: the Red-Eared Slider.
The turtle is much more aggressive than Connecticut's native Painted Turtle but pet owners discarding unwanted Red-Eared Sliders have created an issue of bullying in the animal kingdom here.
"They're bullying their way into all the good breeding grounds," Hollywood said. "People get them in New York and get tired of cleaning or taking care of them and they're letting them loose here."
This particular turtle was recovered from Webb Avenue, but Hollywood said they've been popping up all over the city the last few years.
"If you go to Mill River Park, you'll probably see them all over now," she said. "They've really been thriving in our habitat. They're doing well but they shouldn't be here."
Hollywood said when they recover a Red-Eared Slider, they aren't released into the wild as, legally, that's not allowed to happen. Instead, the turtles are checked by an exotic animal veterinarian, handed off to a licensed wildlife center and a good home is sought.
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