R--US Native Turtles - Housing Care Testing

1 U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service International Affairs Scope of Work – Housing, Care, Testing, Data Management for Confiscated U.S. Native Turtles to Support Repatriation 1. INTRODUCTION AND OVERVIEW Summary: The United States contains more species of turtles than any other country – accounting for approximately 20% of turtle species richness globally. These species face increasing pressures, particularly from illegal collection and international trade. Demand for U.S. turtles remains high in East Asian markets for use as pets, food, and medicinal ingredients. While federal and state law enforcement agencies are skilled at intercepting trafficked turtles, a critical limiting factor remains: the lack of sufficient capacity to house, evaluate, and safely return confiscated turtles to the wild. This project addresses that need by piloting a structured turtle management system in partnership with U.S. States and Tribes, with the goal of responsibly repatriating turtles to the wild. This effort will enhance the long-term conservation resilience of native turtle populations and help stop the loss of American wildlife to illegal markets abroad. Overview: Wildlife professionals broadly agree that U.S. native turtle trafficking volumes have escalated to crisis levels over the past decade. Large-scale seizures involving hundreds of turtles are now common. U.S. species most frequently encountered include box turtles, spotted turtles, and mud and musk turtles, along with other high-risk species such as wood turtles, bog turtles, and diamondback terrapins. Not only does trafficking undercut domestic conservation efforts to protect our native wildlife, but it removes important ecological engineers from our landscapes, responsible for seed dispersal and nutrient cycling. Federal and state law enforcement agencies devote substantial resources to combating illegal turtle trafficking. However, seizures involving live turtles require immediate access to appropriate housing, animal husbandry, and veterinary care. Insufficient space and resources often force officers to delay seizures, divert operational time to animal placement, or temporarily house turtles in unsuitable office environments. This gap significantly limits optimal enforcement. Short-term care is challenging, but long-term management has become nearly untenable. The U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service (Service) Office of Law Enforcement (OLE) created an action plan, aligned with international guidance, to address immediate turtle care by coordinating a Wildlife Confiscation Network of zoos, aquaria, and other conservation focused partners. These institutions, however, are designed to serve only as temporary holding facilities until investigations conclude and generally lack the capacity to house long-lived species like turtles for extended periods. This limitation directly constrains the Service’s ability to address illegal and biologically unsustainable turtle trade. As a result, there is an urgent need to develop alternative long-term placement options, including evaluating opportunities for repatriating eligible confiscated native turtles to the wild. -- 1 of 8 -- 2 2. BACKGROUND International wildlife trafficking generates billions of dollars in criminal profits annually. This illegal activity not only depletes wildlife but deeply affects our own communities. Wildlife trafficking undermines the rule of law, funds transnational criminal organizations, and erodes profits for legal and sustainable trade. Wildlife trafficking of live animals especially presents risks for the spread of infectious diseases and invasive species. Further, losing our native species means weakening the ecosystem services they provide. For turtles, this includes their roles in nutrient cycling, habitat creation, seed dispersal, and regulation of small vertebrate and invertebrate populations. Confronting and reducing wildlife trafficking benefits human communities, including with positive health outcomes for people and animals – consistent with the principles of an integrated approach to wildlife conservation and human. Turtles are among the U.S. species most targeted for illegal international trade. The U.S. has long demonstrated global leadership in turtle conservation, including strong adherence to legal international trade. As a Party to CITES (the Convention on International Trade in Endangered Species of Wild Fauna and Flora), the U.S. strives to ensure international wildlife trade is not detrimental to species in the wild, including turtles. In terms of international protections, 47 of the 61 turtle species native to the U.S. are included in the CITES Appendices. In terms of domestic protections, 14 native turtle species are listed under the Endangered Species Act, and many receive further protections under state law. Due to their decades-long life span, turtles present law enforcement with a uniquely complex and resource-intensive challenge. Large-scale turtle seizures require both immediate action to rapidly secure appropriate housing and veterinary care, and long-term management capacity. The current network of institutions that support confiscated wildlife lacks the resources to provide both sustained care for seized turtles and temporary holding space for new confiscations while investigations proceed and forfeiture determinations are made. Under U.S. regulations (50 CFR Part 12 on seizure and forfeiture procedures), the preferred disposition of confiscated live wildlife—when safe and appropriate—is release into suitable habitat within the species’ historical U.S. range. Release requires landowner and State approval and may not occur if disease or public‑health risks exist. Adequate quarantine and comprehensive genetic and pathogen testing are essential to support informed decision‑making on disposition of these confiscated specimens. The Service International Affairs seeks a contractor to provide housing, husbandry, veterinary services, genetic and infectiou…