The Danger of Tiny Turtles - KCBD NewsChannel 11 Lubbock

These little guys look pretty cute, don't they? But the CDC says before you buy or adopt one from the road, you should know that turtles can carry potentially deadly salmonella bacteria.

Since 1975, it has been illegal in the U.S. to sell turtles with shells less than 4 inches long, but the little guys still wind up as pets in many homes. 

Aside from salmonella, another concern is the CDC says tiny turtles are more likely to be handled by kids as toys, and possibly even fit into a child's mouth. A new CDC report says at least one newborn has died after contracting the bacteria from the family turtle.

Now, before you call the police to the local pet store that sells 1 inch turtles, they can be sold for educational purposes. Just be aware that turtles with shells less than 4 inches should not be handled in homes with small children.