Full Notification

CRANFORD HEALTH DEPARTMENT

in conjunction with

NJ DEP FISH, GAME AND WILDLIFE

PUBLIC ADVISORY.

Found a Box Turtle?  

On Wednesday, July 29, it was reported that someone illegally dumped 150+ Box Turtles onto the edge of a river in Cranford.  The group of turtles include both ones native to New Jersey and some that are not.  Through the efforts of local residents, animal control officers, and law enforcement we’ve already recovered close to 100 of these turtles, BUT WE NEED YOUR HELP!  These turtles need to be evaluated by wildlife veterinarians and biologists before any can be considered for release back into the wild – which is the goal!  

If you find a Box Turtle on your property, please carefully collect it and place in a secure, clean cardboard box or similar container, ideally with a clean towel or paper towels at the bottom.  Keep the turtle indoors in a room-temperature, dark room away from household pets or other local wildlife.  You can bring the turtles to the Cranford Fire Department at 7 Springfield Ave, between the hours of 9 am - 7 pm and our partners will collect them from there.  The turtles will be brought to a licensed wildlife rehabilitator for treatment and care.  

Residents are not permitted to keep these turtles as pets as they are part of an ongoing law enforcement investigation.  It is illegal to remove any turtles from the wild as they are protected species under state regulations.  

Pictured are some of the turtles recovered on July 29 and what to look for around your yards or streets.  The Eastern Box Turtle has the more patterned shell and the Three-toed Box Turtle (not native to NJ) has a plainer brown shell.  Each is about 5-7 inches in length at adult size.  

Please contact Cranford Health Department at (908) 709 7238 or Animal Control Solutions at (908) 722-1271 if you have any questions