191 Turtles Turn Up at Denton FedEx, Putting Spotlight on Illegal Wildlife Shipments
DENTON, Texas (TXAN 24) — It is not every day a trip to the FedEx counter turns into a wildlife rescue operation. But that’s exactly what happened in Denton after a shipment containing 191 turtles and tortoises was discovered at a local FedEx location.
The discovery brought in the City of Denton Animal Shelter, which took custody of the animals and worked with federal wildlife officials. The reptiles were later transferred to the Dallas Zoo for continued care.
For Denton, it’s an unusual story. For people who work in animal welfare, though, it raises a much bigger question: how does something like this happen in the first place?
The U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service is investigating the shipment. The case also puts a spotlight on the underground market for exotic animals. Wildlife officials have dealt with other attempts to move exotic animals illegally, including reptiles and other species.
Locally, the incident also shows the role Denton’s animal-services operation can play when something far outside the normal day-to-day workload lands on its doorstep.
The city’s Linda McNatt Animal Care & Adoption Center is normally dealing with the community’s dogs, cats and other animal-control calls. This time, its staff suddenly had nearly 200 reptiles to worry about. Linda McNatt Animal Care & Adoption Center
For now, the federal investigation will determine where the animals came from, where they were supposed to go and whether laws were broken.
And for Denton residents, it’s another reminder that sometimes a strange package at a local shipping counter can uncover a much bigger story.
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