Nests are oftentimes destroyed and the eggs eaten by raccoons, foxes, or minks. Spotted turtles only exist at 5 sites in West Virginia. Some populations are large, but all are isolated on small patches of wetlands. This turtle is declining in much of its range due to habitat destruction as well as overcollecting by pet traders. These animals are very long-lived and taking adults out of already small and fragile populations can have major effects on the viability of populations.
Spotted turtles are popular pets because of their small size and their wonderful demeanor.
However, taking them as pets will only cause their numbers to decline even more. They are easy to observe in the wild if you know where to look. By leaving the turtles alone in their wetland, this species will have a better chance of still being around for many years. Illegal to collect for commercial purposes. Let him know if you have any information on spotted turtles in the state.