Toxic Turtles

Tiny pet turtles may seem harmless. But the cute reptiles can pose a risk to your health. The animals can carry a harmful bacteria, called Salmonella, that may cause diarrhea and make people seriously ill.

The U.S. Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) determined pet turtles to be the cause of a recent salmonella outbreak. It sickened nearly 40 people in 13 states.

Salmonella bacteria commonly live in the intestines of many animals. The germs can also be found in the animals’ poop and in their environment, such as a turtle tank. Small turtles are particularly dangerous because young children can easily pick them up and put them in their mouths. For this reason, buying and selling them is illegal. “Hand washing is the best way to prevent illness,” says Megin Nichols, a CDC veterinarian. “Do not purchase—or give as a gift—turtles with a shell length of less than 4 inches in size.”