releasing a slider

Question
QUESTION: Is there a better time to release a turtle into the wild. Our turtle does not hibernate but he slows down and eats alot less in the colder months.  I wonder if he needs a few months to adjust to new surroundings before cold weather sets in,.  Would hibernation instinct kick in?  We live in South Carolina.

ANSWER: Releasing a turtle in the wild is not always smart, safe, or legal but there are other options.

Releases should happen within 8 months of capture, and within a mile of their home site. Outside of this, there is just very little chance of success, and every chance it will cause problems in the wild population.

Now- your better release option is to look for a non-wild pond- something surrounded by people. A city park is great.

As for timing- the sooner the better. The cut off is about mid-September in most of the US, but yours can probably go until about mid-October.

Good luck!

---------- FOLLOW-UP ----------

QUESTION: The place of release is a city pond so to speak where people go to picnic and walk.  There are lots of other turtles and ducks there. It is 13 miles from my home and we have had him for 4 years.  Why do the time in captivity and distance from home matter.  If the chance of survival is slim, we will choose to keep him.  It is a no fishing pond.

Answer
The chance of survival is generally good. Other issues cause the problem.

For example, from his time around humans, he has probably picked up some diseases that he is resistant to that wild turtles in the area are not, and the disease would spread rapidly.

In the wild, it has to learn a new territory- safe places, hibernation spots, food locations, nearby potential mates and nesting spots, etc.- If the turtle has not been a captive for very long and is released near home, he does not  have to relearn all this. In a park setting, the options are easier to deal with.

When we release an animal in the real wilderness, we do so with the idea that it will help the wild population- that it will mate and breed, find a good home, etc. If all it does is to make the others sick or die without trying to mate, then it was a waste of effort.

Here, you are not trying to rebuild the wild population, and while it would be nice if your turtle finds a mate, etc., the main goal is for it to live a happier rest of its life- which the park you describe should do nicely.

Good luck!