Why is it illegal to sell an eastern box turtle in Indiana?
FORT WAYNE, Ind. — Indiana conservation officers found 57 turtles in the home of an Elkhart man who is suspected of illegally selling the animals at a swap meet.Spokesman Rodney Clear says the 45-year-old man faces possible misdemeanor charges, but has not been arrested.Officers found the man selling a variety of turtle species, including snapping and eastern box turtles. Clear says it is illegal to sell wildlife in Indiana and a special permit is needed to keep eastern box turtles, which are a protected species.Officers began an investigation about six months ago when the man was seen selling turtles at the Wolf Lake Swap Meet near Kimmel in Noble County.The case has been turned over to prosecutors in Elkhart and Noble counties. Sources: http://www.indy.
Collecting eastern box turtles from the wild in Indiana will soon be illegal. An Indiana law, effective October 23, 2004, prohibits the collection of eastern box turtles (Terrapene carolina) or their parts from the wild in Indiana. Individuals who currently possess an eastern box turtle, a subspecies, or their parts will need to apply for the new box turtle possession permit. There is no cost for the permit. The eastern box turtle is tottering between maintaining stable populations and becoming endangered. “Prohibiting the taking of the eastern box turtle in Indiana is one of the best ways that we can help protect this species,” said State Herpetologist, Zack Walker. Current studies reveal that male eastern box turtles must hear or see a female before the mating process will even begin. Low animal numbers in populations prevent adequate contact between males and females. Additionally, we now know that box turtles have a homing instinct. Turtles displaced by humans will instinctively at
