The red-eared slider is non-native to our park. The red-eared slider is a semiaquatic turtle belonging to the family Emydidae. It is a subspecies of the pond slider. It is the most popular pet turtle in the United States and is also popular as a pet in the rest of the world. It is native to the southern United States and northern Mexico, but has become established in other places because of pet releases and has become an invasive species in many areas, where it outcompetes native species.
Fun Fact The red-eared slider is included in the List of the world's 100 most invasive species published by the International Union for the Conservation of Nature.