Farm bill makes turtle sales legal

WILDSVILLE — For the first time since 1975, selling small pet turtles is legal.

The transmission of turtles smaller than 10.2 centimeters in diameter— whether by sale or donation — has been illegal for the last 31 years because of the risk they might transfer salmonella, a bacteria the turtles transfer to humans that causes illness.

But since then farmers have developed ways to ensure the reptiles are salmonella free, and the U.S. Farm Bill passed in December had an amendment that repealed the tiny turtle ban.

U.S. Sen. David Vitter and U.S. Rep. Rodney Alexander sponsored the turtle amendment. The Farm, Nutrition and Bioenergy Act of 2007 (H.R. 2419) that included the amendment passed 79-14.

For Wildsville turtle farmer Jesse Evans the new legislation won't change much of what he's done for years.

"The big turtle market is in China, but the price has gotten down to where it doesn't pay to send them over there," he said.