PRINTER'S NO. 2862
No. 2134 Session of 2003
INTRODUCED BY SCRIMENTI, BEBKO-JONES, BOYD, CREIGHTON, CRUZ,
DENLINGER, FABRIZIO, GERGELY, GOODMAN, HARHAI, HORSEY,
HUTCHINSON, JAMES, JOSEPHS, McGILL, PETRI, PISTELLA, ROBERTS,
SCHRODER, SHANER, SOLOBAY, WALKO AND YOUNGBLOOD,
OCTOBER 27, 2003
REFERRED TO COMMITTEE ON STATE GOVERNMENT, OCTOBER 27, 2003
AN ACT
1 Selecting, designating and adopting the Eastern Box Turtle
2 (Terrapene carolina carolina) as the official reptile of the
3 Commonwealth of Pennsylvania.
4 WHEREAS, The Eastern Box Turtle is one of the most common
5 turtles seen in this Commonwealth with a range that spans over
6 most of this Commonwealth; and
7 WHEREAS, The Eastern Box Turtle has a mild disposition, and
8 many residents have selected it as a pet; and
9 WHEREAS, This species is easily recognizable because of its
10 sharply rising dome-shaped upper shell and is the only turtle in
11 this Commonwealth that has a single broad, movable hinge
12 allowing it to close tightly and protect it from predators; and
13 WHEREAS, The Eastern Box Turtle is primarily a terrestrial
14 animal and has a long life span of 40 to 100 years, spending
15 most of its life living in a small home range; and
16 WHEREAS, Due to development of its natural habitat, the
17 Eastern Box Turtle is currently decreasing in numbers.
1 The General Assembly of the Commonwealth of Pennsylvania
2 hereby enacts as follows:
3 Section 1. State reptile.
4 The Eastern Box Turtle (Terrapene carolina carolina) is
5 hereby selected, designated and adopted as the official reptile
6 of the Commonwealth of Pennsylvania.
7 Section 2. Effective date.
8 This act shall take effect immediately.
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