PRINTER'S NO.  680

  

THE GENERAL ASSEMBLY OF PENNSYLVANIA

  

HOUSE BILL

 

No.

621

Session of

2009

  

  

INTRODUCED BY CURRY, BEYER, BRENNAN, DiGIROLAMO, FLECK, GEIST, HARRIS, HENNESSEY, HESS, HUTCHINSON, McCALL, MELIO, M. O'BRIEN, SIPTROTH, K. SMITH, VULAKOVICH, YOUNGBLOOD AND MURT, FEBRUARY 26, 2009

  

  

REFERRED TO COMMITTEE ON STATE GOVERNMENT, FEBRUARY 26, 2009  

  

  

  

AN ACT

  

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Selecting, designating and adopting the Eastern Box Turtle

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(Terrapene carolina carolina) as the official reptile for the

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Commonwealth of Pennsylvania.

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WHEREAS, Turtles have lived on Earth for over 250 million

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years; and

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WHEREAS, Reptiles, such as the Eastern Box Turtle, have lived

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in abundance in Pennsylvania; and

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WHEREAS, The scientific name for the Eastern Box Turtle is

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Terrapene carolina carolina; and

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WHEREAS, The Eastern Box Turtle was given the name of "box

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turtle" for its unique ability to hinge its lower shell and pull

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its entire body into its shell, sealing itself tighter than a

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box; and

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WHEREAS, Recently, the number of Eastern Box Turtles in

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Pennsylvania has begun to decrease; and

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WHEREAS, The loss of habitat, pollution, being taken for the

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retail pet trade, killed by vehicles, predators eating turtle

 


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eggs, and the inability to locate mates have severely decreased

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the Pennsylvania turtle population; and

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WHEREAS, By raising the awareness of the Eastern Box Turtle's

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plight, we can save the Eastern Box Turtle and other reptiles in

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Pennsylvania.

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The General Assembly of the Commonwealth of Pennsylvania

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hereby enacts as follows:

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Section 1.  Designation of the official reptile of the

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Commonwealth.

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The Eastern Box Turtle or Terrapene carolina carolina is

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hereby selected, designated and adopted as the official reptile

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of the Commonwealth of Pennsylvania.

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Section 2.  Effective date.

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This act shall take effect immediately.

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