Wildlife Officials Seize Hundreds Of Turtles From Home

This is really terrible in my opinion. Yes, the folks were in the wrong, they forgot to renew their permit, but it seems way overboard to just confiscate everything automatically. What about a warning and a late renewal penalty. These people were breeding legally for 25 years, it's not like they were intentionally doing something illegal.
Granted, the story apparently isn't complete yet, so there may be other factors to consider since the state isn't commenting, but right now this is just extreme as far as I'm concerned.

Armed with a search warrant, the Arkansas Game and Fish Commission seizes 300 alligator snapping turtles and other property from the home of Harold and Doris Randleas.

Doris Randleas says, “They searched everything; got everything."

Early Wednesday morning, the turtle breeder says she awakened to a knock at the door by wildlife officials.

She says she knows why they're here; over a permit that she forgot to renew.

She explains, “That's what it's about---over a $100."

The alligator snapping turtle is the largest fresh water turtle in North America.

Nesting in three separate ponds, throughout their property, the Randleas have about 800 turtles registered with the state.

Arkansas Game and Fish Commission herpetologist Kelly Irwin says, “You can see that they're not like the common snapping turtle; which a lot of people mistake them for. They have a very large head which they can't re-track into the shell all the way."

Irwin says in the past, breeders like Randleas could harvest the species from the wild.

But for more than 10 years, wildlife officials have prohibited the act.

Now the only way you can do it is by breeding them on your own.

The alligator snapping turtle can live up to a hundred years and grow to a hundred pounds. Once they've bred here and laid eggs, the turtles are exported overseas to countries like Japan."

Irwin says, “They're very big into aquaria. So to buy a hatchling alligator snapping turtle is very popular for them."

And for 25 years, snapping turtles is how Randleas says she's made her money; “What are we going to live on? I have no money to pay my bills and to eat on."

Now they've been charged with possessing these turtles without the proper permit. Randleas adds, “I do not do nothing illegal."

Because of the ongoing investigation, wildlife officials can't comment but have said additional charges could be pending.

http://www.todaysthv.com/news/news.aspx?storyid=27616

What makes me sick is most of the females are full of eggs now, I doubt they will get proper care,plus the stress alone they will not lay...Snappers are very delicate and will not lay if there stressed, moved etc..they don't acclimate well as adults either!!!
These guys can lay 25-100eggs each ...
THEY JUST MURDERED THOUSANDS OF BABIES...for the sake of protection..and allover $100.00 permit...

I hadn't even considered the fact that the females are most likely gravid right now. Of course they won't get proper care, the wildlife officials are notorious in most states for having confiscated animals die long before the case is settled.
You know they aren't going to be prepared to properly house 300 adult snappers.
And yeah, all the deaths we know are going to happen just because of $100 that wasn't paid on time. It's pathetic really. Those wildlife officers most definately have better things to be concerned over.

It is sad that wildlife officials are willing to kill so many animals just because they want to make a point over $100, a fine and a warning would have been better suited.

I found the Readles website, if anyone is interested in contacting them. I sent them an e-mail maybe they will come here and explain what happened Randleas Turtle Farm

Does anyone have contact info for the Arkansas Game and Fish Commission? Maybe we should flood them with emails.

to bad the game and fish commision cant be charged with animal cruelty . i'm sure they dont have all those turtles properly housed . its a shame that a 100 dollar permit will cost most likely hundreds or more turtles to die un needed .

Clay Davenport said:

I hadn't even considered the fact that the females are most likely gravid right now. Of course they won't get proper care, the wildlife officials are notorious in most states for having confiscated animals die long before the case is settled.
You know they aren't going to be prepared to properly house 300 adult snappers.
And yeah, all the deaths we know are going to happen just because of $100 that wasn't paid on time. It's pathetic really. Those wildlife officers most definately have better things to be concerned over.

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Yep. My late Friend Lloyd Lemke (RIP), had his animals confiscated one time. He sued, for several things; unlawful confiscation, no case, care of animals (some important stuff was killed while in their care). He won the case, apparently to the tune of some 6 figures.

My wife works at the ASPCA and has worked at shelters, when the shelters cannot accommodate a large amount of animals that are dropped off to them, they will euthanize. the animals. Reptiles are last on the list to consider keeping around for adoption.

A certain shelter here will keep an aggressive dog around for weeks to try and tame it before considering to put it down, reptiles are given 3 days.

There's another article on this from the Arkansas Democrat, but you can't access it unless you are a paying subscriber, either in print or online. The title of the article is "Turtles hauled away as 2nd farm is shut". I'll keep an eye out to see if I can get it from another source in the next few days.
In the meantime I did find this bit of info from 2003. It's a press release from the USF&W where James Randleas was convicted of violating the Lacy Act involving interstate transport of wild caught snappers.
I still hate to think of all those turtles and potential eggs in the possession of F&G, but there may just be more to it that just a $100 permit.
At this link Doris Randleas said they had to post a $27,000 bond to get out of jail. That too suggests there may be more to it than just a failure to renew a permit.
However, I'm not going to rule out the possibility that it's just the F&G zealots blowing something out of proportion.
Here's the F&W press release from 2003:

Arkansas Man Sentenced for Illegal Turtle Dealing


FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE

April 7, 2003

Contact:
Christine Eustis, (404) 679-7287

Little Rock -- James Randleas of Jacksonville, AR, doing business as Randleas Turtle Farm, Inc., was sentenced in U.S. District Court in Little Rock on three counts of violating the Lacey Act. The Lacey Act is a Federal statute which makes it unlawful to transport wildlife across state lines if the wildlife was taken, sold, or possessed in violation of state law.

A cooperative investigation between the enforcement divisions of the Arkansas Game and Fish Commission, the Mississippi Department of Wildlife, Fisheries and Parks, and the U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service revealed that on two occasions Randleas purchased alligator snapping turtles from a Mississippi resident knowing that the turtles had been taken from the wild, which is a violation of Mississippi law. Evidence showed that Randleas then knowingly imported the turtles into Arkansas in violation of Arkansas law. The investigation also revealed that Randleas operated a commercial turtle business out of Jacksonville and Biscoe, AR, and offered the illegally taken turtles for sale through his turtle business.

“We work cooperatively with the States of Arkansas and Mississippi on many cases to protect native wildlife,” said Thomas M. Riley, Special Agent in Charge for the U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service’s Southeast Division of Law Enforcement. “Wildlife crime has a serious impact on the States’ natural resources, and we are pleased with the judge’s ruling.”

U.S. District Judge Steven M. Reasoner ordered Randleas to pay a fine of $8,000.00 and placed him on one year of active probation for the three violations. Lee Gardner of Greenwood, Mississippi was also charged in the original indictment. Gardner was sentenced to pay a fine of $3,000.00 for his part in the violation. The case was prosecuted by Assistant United States Attorney Bill Adair.

“The Commission is committed to protecting and conserving the wildlife of Arkansas,” said Lt. Colonel John Day with the Arkansas Game and Fish Commission. “We hope that this sentence will discourage others who might want to profit from the illegal take and sale of this resource.”

The largest freshwater turtle in the world, alligator snapping turtles are native only to the southeastern United States. Their numbers have decreased over the years due to diminished habitat and over harvest to supply a thriving commercial market. Because of their declining numbers, many southern states have prohibited the take of this species from the wild. Adult alligator snapping turtles can grow to over 150 pounds and have been documented to live up to 80 years in captivity. The wild alligator snapping turtles involved in this investigation all weighed in excess of 100 pounds.

http://www.fws.gov/southeast/news/2003/r03-030.html

hmmmm , that does put a bit of a slant on things . i still think the big losers in this are the tutrles regaurdless of who is at fault .

Considering that the game and fish commision are going to be killing that many turtles, that is just horribly wrong, aren't they supposed to help wildlife? Some people just don't think straight these days...

That is really sad that 300 turtles would lose their life over this. I just don't know what else fish and game would do with 300 turtles. Its not like illegal game and fish where they would have it processed and donate the meat to charity or homeless. Alltough they are quite tasty. I suppose they could give some to zoos and stuff but that wouldn't take all 300. You cant release them after captivity for fear of some kind of contamination to the wild population. Or maybe you could the babies. Can a turtle raised in captivity be released and know how to hunt for food itself or has it become to dependent on man kind?

If its all over a $100 dollar permit than its just a shame, and the fish and game should have looked at the bigger picture. If there is a whole lot more to it than you really cant blame the Fish and Game for 300 turtles dying over someone else's mistakes. There really isn't a whole lot of options for them. I would like to know if they ever take into account what they are going to do with the animals before they make a raid like this.

ACTUALLY 300 TURTLES DYING IS JUST A FRACTION OF WHAT WILL DIE...Keep in mind this was a turtle breeding farm..this time of the year 2/3rds of the 300 will be full of eggs with an average clutch size of probably 40-50eggs each... that's about 8-10,000 dead baby turtles!!!
This is clear evidence that they do not give a damn about animals!!!
They will spend countless thousands trying to bust someone selling ONE illegal turtle ... All in the name of saving the species from peiople who "take advantage of them" but they won't give a moments thought to how busting these folks will affect hundreds and thousands of the very animals they are supposedly protecting.
They are criminals that are working from within the law..no better than the common poacher...except they have the Federal Gov behind them...

I emailed the following question to the fish and game in my state the FWC I will post the response when i get one.

I was reading an article where 300 alligator snapping turtles where confiscated in a raid perfromed by a Fish and Game dept in Arkansas.

That got me to thinking. I know here in FL that most nuisance gators over a cetian length dont get relocated. And that when illegal fish or game is seized the meat is proccesed and donated to charity. FL has numerous people in the Herp trade and exotic pets. Do yall take into account before a raid what you may have to do with the animals you seize. Giving proper husbandry, and habitat. Or finding a new home in zoo's or something.

I realize that animals breed and kept in captivity cant be released due to dangers to native wild species, even if it is an endangered or species of concern. I was curious what steps are taken to insure the well being of the animals thru all this. I realize that yall wouldnt be in the postion if some dummy didnt break the law and endanger the animals they probably shouldnt have anyway. But in the end yall are in the buisness of protecting those animals and the enviroment and get stuck with the task.

Click to expand...

Justin Mitcham said:

ACTUALLY 300 TURTLES DYING IS JUST A FRACTION OF WHAT WILL DIE...Keep in mind this was a turtle breeding farm..this time of the year 2/3rds of the 300 will be full of eggs with an average clutch size of probably 40-50eggs each... that's about 8-10,000 dead baby turtles!!!
This is clear evidence that they do not give a damn about animals!!!
They will spend countless thousands trying to bust someone selling ONE illegal turtle ... All in the name of saving the species from peiople who "take advantage of them" but they won't give a moments thought to how busting these folks will affect hundreds and thousands of the very animals they are supposedly protecting.
They are criminals that are working from within the law..no better than the common poacher...except they have the Federal Gov behind them...

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It is truly sad, and the numbers are very disturbing.

I agree completely that there are criminals working within the law. I emailed my local agency to see what there plan is for instances like this. I would really like to know.

I am a big sportsman and know that we as sportsman can have a large impact on our local wildlife management agencies. Take the net ban in FL for example. I got to think that people in the herp trade could have just as much of an impact. Alltough with an island full of iguanas, and a swamp full of pythons here in FL i got to think its going to be a hard sell.

I encourage you to email your local agency and ask them what there plan is for the well being of the animals seized in a raid.

Response from the FWC

I got a response on the question i asked. Here is the FWC's response.

Response (LE-LH) 05/09/2006 11:16 AM

Typically FWC works with the individual possessing the wildlife to ensure that the animal(s) are housed at an appropriately licensed facility. Should FWC personnel seize illegally possessed wildlife all court procedures regarding the seizure and release of evidence must be followed before the wildlife can be permanently placed at another wildlife facility. Once this occurs, the wildlife is typically placed/released to an appropriately licensed facility in good standing with the FWC

Click to expand...

I believe some one else stated that while the court proceedings are going the amount of care given in insufficient. With the vague response i got seems to be the same here in my state.

That was a very amorphous response from FWC. They keep mentioning a licensed facility, we all know the truth about that one. I wonder, since the animals are kept in the backyard, would they be safe to release in the wild? Since there is a shortage, why not add 300+ to the falling population.

Owners of Confiscated Turtles Allege Abuse by Game and Fish

Here's an update on the situation with the turtles. It's already being alleged that the F&W are not treating them properly.
The video mentioned can ve viewed at the link located at the bottom of this post. I'm currently at work and cannot get it to play so I haven't seen it yet.

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Little Rock - It's video of alleged animal abuse at the hands of Arkansas Game and Fish Officers. Last month, Arkansas Game and Fish officers confiscated about 1,200 Alligator Snapping Turtles from a farm in Prairie County.


Doris and Harold Randleas owned the turtles and say they were taken because the couple didn't renew their license. Now they're afraid the breed is being abused.


(James Randleas, Turtle Owners’ Son) "Watch this right here, he just tossed that turtle up over it's head into a pile of other turtles that have spikes."


James Randleas says his parents’ Alligator Snapper Turtles are in the wrong hands as home video allegedly reveals Arkansas Game and Fish officers tossing the reptiles around. James says his parents’ livelihood was taken away after failing to renew their breeder permit.


(James Randleas) "Everybody makes mistakes. It shouldn't cost you your whole life."


The Randleas face major charges that James says all stem from a minor mistake. He says what's worse is the lifeless pictures of the rare turtles, from abuse at the hands of game and fish officers, according to James.


(James Randleas) "When you pick up a turtle up by it's tail that's an extension of it's spine. It is possible to dislocate their spine and kill them."


(Randal Berry, Reptile Keeper, LR Zoo) "It could damage a turtle if you pick it up by the tail. Absolutely."


Herpetologist Randal Berry could not confirm abuse in the video, but says there’s a "right" way to pick up turtles.


(Berry) "The proper way to pick them up is to pick them up by the shell to support their weight and you put one hand at the top where they can't bite you then one on the back."


(Keith Stephens, AR Game and Fish) "I can assure you they were handled properly."


Officials with the Game and Fish Commission would not comment much due to a pending investigation, but say the Randleas were given a 45-day license renewal notification.


Stephens also says the animals were already in dyer health and some may have already been dead.


(Stephens) "They could have died and that's why their handling them that way they still are hearty animals I really couldn't tell you without seeing the video."


(James Randleas) "My dad has turtles that would eat out of his hands they were like his kids."


The Arkansas Game and Fish Commission has not viewed the video, saying they could not see it without their biologist present.

Link to Story

in the video it does look like they are miss hadling those turtles . its not the best of videos but if i had to say one way or the other i'd have to agree that they are not doing the critters any good like that .

Thanks for the update Clay.