Arkansas has some unexpected houseguests you’re simply not allowed to touch, even if they show up in the most inconvenient spots. I remember being shocked the first time I learned one of them was living right under my porch.
These protected critters have some serious rules surrounding them. Let’s run through why they’re off-limits and what that means for anyone who crosses paths with them.
1. Eastern Box Turtle
Found wandering through Arkansas gardens, box turtles carry special legal protection under state wildlife regulations. Their slow movements and colorful shells make them easy to spot, but touching or relocating them breaks the law.
Arkansas residents must leave these reptiles alone, even if they appear in flower beds or vegetable patches. Box turtles control insect populations naturally and play vital roles in seed dispersal across the Natural State…