This is a river cooter turtle shell.
River cooter turtles are not an endangered species.
No exports of turtle shells to the European Union due to their laws.
A USFWS export permit is required for all exports outside of the U.S.
We are frequently asked where the turtle shells come from and how they are obtained. Our hatchling shells come from turtle farms. The other turtle shells come from either ranch or wild turtles. Most of the smaller shells up to 6” to 7” long come from turtle farms where the turtles have died from natural causes at the farm. The farm saves them for the woman who cleans them for us and then we sell them. Most of the larger turtle shells come from turtles that are typically trapped in the wild with their meat sold as a delicacy. The turtles were not killed just for their shells. The ranch turtle shells are very clean compared to the wild turtle shells. We will send an assortment of shells unless you specify you want only ranch or wild shells.