release into wild

Question
Hi and thanks for looking.
I've found and cared for I think a slider or coot for over
7 years now.I live in Fla.and have been torn with what choice to make.There is a preserve (amazing habitat)about 5 years old in Delray Bch.I saw many of her kind.She is used to turtle sticks,carrots and people.She is about 8 inches head to toe.would she thrive if amoung her kind in this preserve.
There are no gators,just large heron,ibis &snakes.Looks like turtle heaven.My concern is sudden change of eating source and unlimited space she will encounter.Can such a change make her shut down,or will she take off and do what nature intended all along.I am truly relying on your advice.  

Answer
It is generally a bad idea to release animals of any species to the wild- even if it is nearly their natural range.

Now, if it was wild-caught and had been a captive for under 4-5 months, and could be released within a half-mile or closer to its real home, then I would agree with it.

However, we have several small problems that add up to this being a beautiful, but not good, idea.

The two big problems are that it will not thrive, or that it will.

It may not do well. It has no understanding of the territory, how and where to hide from predators or hunt for food, how and when to avoid cold or dry weather, who 'owns' which territories, etc. Most released turtles do not make it more than a few months.

Oddly enough, it is almost worse if it does live. Now, it can spread disease that it picked up from your home and is resistant to, but the local turtles will not have a resistance to. It may be a bully for being bigger than other turtles its age. It may outcompete other turtles, especially younger ones, etc.

There are other factors that researchers have found over and over again with released pets of many species- it is just usually bad for that animal, and/or the wild populations as a whole.

On the flip side, there are many reptile rescue operations and other people in Florida who would probably be happy to offer it a good home.

Good luck!