Tiny turtles can bring huge problems, News

Fly-by-night hucksters who have been hawking tiny turtles in small plastic tanks for about $10 a pop on Colorado Springs roadsides this summer may be giving customers more than they bargained for — like a trip to the hospital.That is because baby turtles — often no bigger around than a silver dollar — are literally swimming with the potentially deadly bacteria salmonella. One only need touch a turtle then touch that hand to the mouth to come down with a serious bout of fever and intestinal distress.Young children are at especially high risk because they tend to be the recipients of these tiny turtles, tend to put everything they can reach in their mouths, and are especially vulnerable to the