Assembly Bill A2490-2013 would amend the New York State Environmental Conservation Law to allow trappers to take snapping turtles, our state reptile. Turtles already are under pressure globally, with populations reduced by more than half, and many
Assembly Bill A2490-2013 would amend the New York State Environmental Conservation Law to allow trappers to take snapping turtles, our state reptile. Turtles already are under pressure globally, with populations reduced by more than half, and many species already endangered. Likewise, snappers are already under pressure in New York state.
To permit trapping as an additional source of mortality for our state reptile would be like allowing hunting of our national symbol, the bald eagle, as both are highly esteemed, emblematic and pressured.
The snapping turtle is a keystone species in ecosystems. Yet, “clamshell” dredges that have been in use for several years removing PCB sediments in the Hudson River also have been killing hundreds if not thousands of these key ecosystem predators gruesomely. Several more years and many more miles of ecosystem mayhem in the Hudson River are planne