These rescues are legitimate reptile rescues doing good work in your community, not hoarders. Even if you aren’t looking to adopt right now, donations are always appreciated (and a great way to help make a difference in the reptile hobby)!
Arizona
Phoenix Herpetological Sanctuary — Based in Scottsdale. Volunteers accepted. Accepts surrenders.
Southern Arizona Reptile Rescue & Education — Based in Tucson. Accepts surrenders. Unable to take aquatic turtles or desert tortoises.
The Haus of Voodoo — Based in Payson.
California
American Tortoise Rescue — Based in Malibu. Specializes in turtles and tortoises.
Aunt Anna’s Reptile Rescue — Based in Contra Costa county. Accepts surrenders for all reptile species except aquatic turtles. Donations welcome!
California Turtle & Tortoise Club — Based in Van Nuys. Specializes in turtles and tortoises.
JnW Reptile Rescue — Accepts surrenders. Snake relocation services available.
Mutt Hut Rescue — Foster program available.
Georgia
Georgia Reptile Society — Foster program available. Accepts surrenders.
Idaho
Southern Idaho Reptile Rescue — Based in Buhl. Offers rehabilitation and rehoming services for reptiles. Accepts surrenders.
Illinois
Copper’s Friends Bearded Dragon Rescue — Based in Decatur.
Iowa
The Lizard Lighthouse — Foster locations in Nebraska and Iowa. Surrenders accepted. Fostering opportunities available. Unable to take wild reptiles or aquatic turtles. Shipping available for a fee.
Kansas
Crimson Exotics — Foster locations in Kansas, New Jersey, Minnesota, and Washington. Surrenders accepted. Shipping available.
Kentucky
Loving Leos Reptile Rescue — Based in Franklin. Surrenders closed at this time.
Maine
Herp Haven Reptile Rescue & Sanctuary — Based in Brunswick. Accepts volunteers and surrenders. Foster program available. Does not ship.
Mr. Drew and His Animals Too — Based in Lewiston. Feeder insects available for sale at physical storefront.
Maryland
Mid-Atlantic Turtle & Tortoise Society — Based in Highland. Specializes exclusively in turtles and tortoises. Accepts surrenders and item donations. Support this rescue with an annual membership!
Second-Hand Serpents Reptile Rescue — Based in Elkton. Accepts surrenders for all reptiles except aquatic turtles. Also runs a physical storefront for reptile supplies and feeders.
Jenn’s Uncommon Critters — Based in Frederick. Rescue and interactive animal education program focusing on reptiles, invertebrates, and small mammals. Accepts volunteers and surrenders.
Massachusetts
Redfoot Reptile Rescue Programs — Based in Whitman. Works with both reptiles and amphibians in need of a new home, medical attention, or husbandry correction. Accepts surrenders, although a fee may be charged.
Michigan
Genesis Reptile Rescue — Based in Elmira.
Wild Whiskers — Based in Kalamazoo. Accepts surrenders.
Minnesota
Crimson Exotics — Foster locations in Kansas, New Jersey, Minnesota, and Washington. Surrenders accepted. Shipping available.
J&R Aquatic Animal Rescue — Based in Wisconsin but does surrender events in MN.
Minnesota Herpetological Society — Must be a member in good standing of the MHS to adopt or foster an animal. Accepts limited animals for surrender. Aquatic turtles only accepted at intake events a couple of times per year.
Resource for Iguana Care and Adoption — Based in St. Paul. Green iguanas only. Volunteers welcome. Does not ship, but is willing to transport to surrounding states for the right adopter.
Snake Discovery’s Adoption Island — Based in Maplewood. Accepts surrenders, with the exception of aquatics. Shipping available, but not during winter due to weather.
Mississippi
Central Mississippi Turtle Rescue — Based in Florence. Specializes in turtles and tortoises, releasing native species back into the wild and rehoming the others. Sponsorship and foster programs available.
Missouri
The Three Sisters Exotic Rescue & Sanctuary — Based in St. Louis.
Nebraska
The Lizard Lighthouse — Foster locations in Nebraska and Iowa. Surrenders accepted. Fostering opportunities available. Unable to take wild reptiles or aquatic turtles. Shipping available for a fee.
New Jersey
Crimson Exotics — Foster locations in Kansas, New Jersey, Minnesota, and Washington. Surrenders accepted. Shipping available.
New York
Hudson Valley Reptile and Rescue — Offers educational presentations as well as an adoption program. Accepts surrenders.
Second Chance Bird & Reptile Rescue — Foster-based rescue organization. Accepts surrenders.
North Carolina
Be Wild Reptile Rescue — Based in Durham. Unable to take in yellow-bellied sliders, red-eared sliders, or iguanas. Sponsorships available. Volunteers accepted.
Fresh Start Rescue — Does not accept aquatic turtles. Sponsorships available. Internships available, volunteers welcome. Accepts surrenders. Offers reptile boarding.
North Dakota
Kritter Krazy Reptile and Exotic Rescue — Based in Bottineau. Accepts surrenders. Appointments only.
Ohio
Arrowhead Reptile Rescue — Does not ship.
Herps Alive Foundation — Based in South Euclid. Volunteers welcome.
Oregon
Beautiful Dragons Reptile Rescue — Based in Albany.
Jungle Things Oregon — Based in Sutherlin. Volunteers welcome, accepts surrenders. In addition to rescuing reptiles, they offer boarding, fostering, enclosure setup assistance, and health care assistance. Appointments only.
Pennsylvania
Christina’s Reptile and Animal Sanctuary — Based in Palmerton. Accepts surrenders.
Forgotten Friend Reptile Sanctuary — Based in Elm. Accepts surrenders.
Heart Reptile Rescue and Sanctuary — Accepts surrenders, but does not take aquatic turtles or iguanas.
Marie Exotics Reptile Rescue — Based in Washington. Accepts surrenders, but does not take aquatics.
Moonlit Jungle Rescue — Based in Lilitz. Accepts surrenders. Volunteers welcome. Offers zero-cost education programs to education groups.
Texas
Eden Animal Sanctuary — Based in Spring Branch. Specializes in turtles and tortoises. Does not ship.
Lumpy Lizard Reptile, Poultry, and Exotics Rescue — Based in Edna.
Utah
Wasatch Exotics Rescue — Based in Sandy. Shipping is available to the lower 48 states.
Vermont
Safe Haven Critter Rescue — Based in Burlington. Foster-to-adopt available. Surrenders accepted.
Virginia
Blue Ridge Reptile Rescue — Based in Fairfield. Accepts surrenders, may ship. Also sells used reptile equipment.
Central Virginia Reptile Rescue — Based in the Richmond area. Accepts surrenders, does not ship.
Washington
Crimson Exotics — Foster locations in Kansas, New Jersey, Minnesota, and Washington. Surrenders accepted. Shipping available.
Pacific Northwest Aquatics and Exotics Rescue — Based in Tacoma, WA. Offers education and outreach, reptile boarding, medical foster, long term foster, etc. Accepts surrenders. Sponsors and volunteers welcome.
Wisconsin
Badgerland Reptile Rescue — Based in Kenosha. Accepts surrenders. Foster program available.
J&R Aquatic Animal Rescue — Based in Menasha. Accepts surrenders. Sponsors welcome.
Don’t see your rescue on this list? Please apply to join ReptiFiles’ list of approved reptile rescues by contacting me at mariah@reptifiles.com.