In 1990, ‘Teenage Mutant Ninja Turtles’ coincided with a pet turtle boom, and unwanted red-eared sliders were later released into U.S. waters, where they competed with native turtles

The popularity of the Teenage Mutant Ninja Turtles has led to a surge in red-eared slider turtle sales. Unfortunately, many new pet owners, unaware of the ecological consequences, release these turtles into local bodies of water. Their resilience enables them…