Red-ear Sliders are a problem. They get big, chase away or displace native species, and are a nuisance species in lakes and ponds around the world- far outside their native range. They also carry disease from their captive habitats that spread to the native populations who have no immunity.

There are many places in the world where native turtles, some very rare, are being driven out by Sliders released by people who were not ready to care for the big, long-lived species.

I do not recommend adding to the problem by releasing them anywhere they can get to a wild place. See if there is a rescue/rehab group near you, and animal shelter, or a place where there is a pond nowhere near a wild pond that will take them.

I’ve got to point out that most of these places are already full- there are a LOT of people in your situation!

One possibility…

The founder of PETA once said that sometimes the only humane option for some animals is to put them to sleep forever.

I am not a fan of this sort of thinking, but any wild or semi-wild place near you that is a good turtle space should already have its own turtles that are supposed to be there- whether you see them or not. Releasing yours will doom them- and they were there first and belong.