A destructive bill legalizing the capture and killing of snapping turtles
by trapping is speeding through the NYS Legislature Snapping turtles are
already permitted to be killed by gun and longbow and therefore recreational
and commercial trapping will dramatically increase the number of these
turtles deaths. A devastating blow to these vulnerable animals. The bill
has passed the Senate is and is currently in the Assembly Codes Committee.
This proposed legislation is cruel and scientifically wrong. It is not
based on any proven science regarding snapping turtles, or any turtle species.
Would you please make a 30 second call ( simply leave a message with the
receptionist) and/or email to the following legislators.
1. Assembly Speaker Sheldon Silver - phone (518) 455- 3791.
email - [email protected] ,
2. Assemblyman Lentol, Chair of Codes, - phone (518) 455-4100
email- [email protected]
1. Ask them to please to use their position of Chair and Speaker in the
Assembly to Defeat Bill A2490 which legalizes the capture and killing of
snapping turtles by trapping.
2. Leave your name and ask that you be contacted regarding the action taken
If you have time you may wish to add the following points:
1. The flesh of snapping turtles is tainted with toxins .
2. Non- intended endangered and threatened species of turtles will be
captured and killed if this bill if passed. Ie:the Endangered Bog Turtle
and the Threatened Blandings turtle.
Turtles are already vulnerable to an existing multitude of threats such
as loss of habitat, mortality rates of pregnant females crossing roadways,
high hatchling death rates etc. Killing snapping turtles by traps will
only increase their population loss. They need to be protected, not killed.
What sort of state passes laws to make it easy to eat their state reptile,
the common snapping turtle?
For those wanting to see a copy of the bill, A2490, email me at
[email protected].
Thanks. Please do it.
Allen Salzberg
Publisher/Editor
HerpDigest:The Only Free Internet-Only Weekly Newslettter that Reports on
the Latest Reptile and Amphibian Scientific and Conservation News
Go to www.herpdigest.org to subscribe
Committee Chair Conservation & Media Committees New York Turtle & Tortoise
Society
Member of the IUCN Species Survival Group for Tortoises and Fresh Water Turtles
