About the Turtle Rescue of Long Island

Julie Maguire, Director of Turtle Rescue of Long Island (TRLI), and Steve Menikos, both New York State Licensed Wildlife Rehabilitators, who after many years of keeping turtles realized the need for a network of caring keepers to help turtles that need new homes, founded Turtle Rescue of Long Island. After many years of taking in both native turtles for rehabilitation and non-native turtles and tortoises to place in new homes, we have come to a point where we have grown so that we cannot do both. As of July 31st, 2015 we will no longer be taking in non-native species, instead our concentration will be solely on rehabilitating native turtles.

This site has been created to help give turtles and tortoises a better life. (TRLI) is a small 501(c)(3) non-profit rescue that is dedicated to the care and conservation of all species of chelonians. Many turtles are purchased by well-meaning, caring individuals who over time become overwhelmed with the turtle in their care. Whether they were misinformed by the pet shop where they purchased their turtle as to their specific care or size the animal will grow, or just find they can’t provide the care required any longer, TRLI will try to point you in the right direction. We will send you information on proper care for your species and try to help you make changes so you can keep your turtle or tortoise.

TRLI strongly urges anyone considering a turtle for a pet to do his or her research first. There are many reliable sites on the internet providing species specific care. You may be able to buy a turtle for ten dollars, but to properly keep a turtle it can cost hundreds of dollars to provide a proper environment. Veterinary care is also a factor, so before you take home that turtle be sure you have a good reptile vet that knows how to treat turtles.

If after doing your research you decide a turtle is right for you please consider adopting from one of the many rescues dedicated to them.

We are fully supportive of captive breeding to stop the harvesting of turtles and tortoises from the wild. In an ideal world there would be no pet turtles, but we do not live in an ideal world so we believe that captive breeding is the best alternative to ensure our wild turtles do not become extinct.

We also support captive breeding programs of species that are on the verge of decline/extinction because of years of harvesting from the wild.

We do not condone the mass breeding of turtles and tortoises for profit or otherwise which are overwhelming rescues, especially Sulcata tortoises which end up in the wrong climate.

We do encourage anyone with a pet turtle to do their research and give it the care it requires/deserves.