Clara-Belle was surrendered to Hamilton Animal Services by her owners when they could no longer accommodate her needs. Miss Clara-Bell is a large turtle, and she requires a large living space. Thankfully we had an open foster home who could provide just that! We got Clara-Belle out of the shelter and she went to the vet where she was received a clean bill of health. She was very active and curious while at the vet. Such a sweet girl!
Clara-Belle is now settling in at her foster home, where she has 300 gallons of space in a turtle tub to swim around, bask and explore. We”re requesting her forever home provide close to, or as much room as she has now, so she’s able to live out her days in comfort.
Clara-Belle is somewhat shy, but she’s friendly. She will take a dive off her basking platform when someone comes into the room, but she comes back up to say hello when she realizes there is no danger.
Potential adopters who are new to turtles will need to do lots of research into their specific needs as far as lighting, food, environment, etc. A large turtle is not a pet to acquire on a whim, and they are a very long-term commitment. The average lifespan for most Mississippi maps lies somewhere between 15 and 20 years, but when kept properly, a Mississippi map turtle can live for up to 30 years or more.
This page and this page are good places to start researching a turtle’s needs.

Please adopt Clara-Belle!