Terrapins and turtles have been spotted across Norfolk, prompting locals to question why the tropical reptiles are suddenly populating the county's waterways.
Experts fear that many pet owners are releasing their reptiles into the wild due to the cost of living crisis.
And the cooler and wetter weather may have led to an increase in sightings as the animals need to bask more.
Kip Kips, who lives in Norwich, spotted what looked like a terrapin basking in the sun at Hellesdon Mill.
Another was caught by a father and son near Hellesdon Bridge, who pulled a huge terrapin from the pond.
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Denise Denny, who lives in Norwich, lost her terrapin earlier this year and has been searching for it since June.
She said: "Our pet terrapin went missing and we took a paddleboard down the tunnels near Hellesdon Mill pond and we were shocked to discover the number of turtles hiding in the tunnels."
Karl Woodard, director of AK Reptiles and Aquatics Limited, based near Watton, has also been made aware of the influx of visitors in recent months.
He said: "I've had many reports of the reptiles spotted in Loch Neaton and my first thoughts are that these are pets dumped by their owners as they've outgrown their aquariums or are no longer wanted.
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"The problem is so bad that we no longer sell them, as any responsible pet store should do."
Due to energy bills rising, the heated enclosures and equipment are often seen as an unnecessary cost, with owners inflating the amount it actually costs to care for reptiles.
Liam Smith, from the Norfolk Non-native Species initiative, added: "The terrapins at Hellesdon Mill have been around a few years, they've also been reported in a lot of other village ponds and rivers in the county.
"The recent increase in sightings could be explained by the recent cooler wetter weather, which would mean the terrapins need to bask more so would be more visible.
"There is a chance that people who have had them as pets may be struggling more with energy prices and the cost of living crisis, so some may have been released recently."
The popularity of the Teenage Mutant Ninja Turtles cartoon in the late 1980s and early 1990s prompted a huge craze in owning terrapins as pets, but many were illegally dumped in the wild.
Terrapins can live up to 40 years in the wild, where they prey on native UK species such as frogs, fish, and even ducklings.
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