If somebody says that they got a new pet turtle, there’s a big chance that it’s a red-eared slider. This species is the most popular in the United States. It’s also common as a pet across the globe.

Vermont banned the import and sale of pond slider turtles, including red-eared sliders, to protect native species. Pond sliders compete with native turtles for resources and can spread diseases.

Washington Post A government ordinance targeting two invasive species came into force Thursday, banning the trade of red swamp crayfish and red-eared slider turtles and their release into the wild.