From The Banner · Cody Boteler · · 1m 40s
Maryland fights illegal turtle trade with K-9 dogs
Maryland uses USDA-trained dogs to track poached turtles and plan releases.
In brief
Maryland uses USDA-trained dogs to track poached turtles and plan releases. Maryland DNR releases repatriated turtles after verifying populations and plans new rules to ban wild turtle collection. Originally reported by The Banner.
Maryland DNR targets illegal turtle trade
Maryland officials work to combat illegal turtle trade through repatriation and new rules.
“the turtles were repatriated to maryland after a bust in new york in 2018”
USDA dogs track poached turtles
USDA-trained dogs like sophie find turtles in sandy point state park to verify populations.
“sophie, an almost 3-year-old black labrador retriever, bounds around a pavilion at sandy point state park”
2018 New York bust recovers 292 turtles
A 2018 new york bust recovered 292 turtles including 53 wood turtles and 184 spotted turtles.
“the turtles were repatriated to maryland after a bust in new york in 2018”
Wood turtles are endangered
Wood turtles native to maryland are endangered with poaching as their biggest threat.
“wood turtles, which are native to maryland and other areas along the east coast, are considered endangered”
Illegal trade fuels turtle demand
Illegal turtle trade grows due to exotic pet market and traditional chinese medicine demand.
“many turtles, and other reptiles, are plucked from the wild and illegally sold because of a growing market for exotic pets”
Turtle repatriation requires testing
DNR tests turtles for diseases before releasing them to prevent local population risks.
“ellen bronson, senior director of animal health, conservation and research at the maryland zoo in baltimore, said it was important to repeatedly test the turtles for diseases”
Population size affects release strategy
DNR considers local turtle population size when deciding where to release repatriated turtles.
“a local population of 60 turtles would benefit more from the introduction of six adults than a local population of 120 turtles”
State herpetologist confirms turtle source
State herpetologist says turtles from new york bust likely came from maryland’s larger wood turtle populations.
“beth schlimm, a state herpetologist, or reptile scientist, said dnr knew that the turtles from the new york bust likely came from one of maryland’s larger wood turtle populations”
USDA dogs verify viable populations
USDA dogs help dnr verify turtle populations are large enough for repatriated turtles to survive.
“they are much better at finding turtles than us, said brian durkin, a dnr turtle conservation specialist”
DNR plans new turtle collection rules
Maryland DNR plans rule change to ban wild turtle collection and possession.
“the agency plans to propose a rule change within weeks that would make it illegal to take or possess any reptile or amphibian species that’s native to maryland”
Current rules allow turtle collection
Currently, it is legal to collect turtles from wild for pets in maryland.
“it’s currently legal for a person to collect a turtle out of the wild to keep as a pet”
The key point
Maryland DNR releases repatriated turtles after verifying populations and plans new rules to ban wild turtle collection.
