I agree. People need to realize that the excuse: "human overcollecting is demenishing to wild populations of turtles" is just a load of crap that the state's Department of Natural Resources (or whatever else they call themselves) uses to cover its tail. Last year, in West Ashley, South Carolina-near Charleston, they- as in the SCDNR, somehow ok-ed the destruction of probably a 2 football field sized area of black bog swampland to stick in a Wal-Mart. In this area-we found many species of rare orchids supposedly protected by our state as well as untouched animal life. When we told our state about this-it is like it went in one ear and out the other. When an area is destructed for the purpose of building, they put up what is called a drift fence-which is nothing more than a black plastic-fabric fence whch keepsn rain from washing away trash and debris. What this also does is keeps the animals out or in---when a box turtle encounters one of these fences, it can either go left or right. Ultimately, every drift fence leads to a road which is where the turtles end up. If you could have seen the amount of dead turtles as a result of their habitat being COMPLETELY destroyed, you would start picking them up as well. For every one who thinks a turtle in captivity will not survive outside of its natural habitat, I ask you this: What if their habitat is destroyed? What if their feeding and breeding grounds are now under isle 7 of a Wal-Mart? Do you still think they should be left on the roads? Well, we moved them, all of them we found alive. They are now in an area surrounded by fast water that contains a woodland, a swamp, and open fields full of life, food, everything they need. Not quite as large as the area that was destroyed, but large enough to keep them happy and protected from any cars. Me and a buddy of mine between the two of us saved more turtles from that one area OFF OF THE ROADS ONLY than I care to disclose which is more than the DNR has ever done or probably will ever do. So please, do not talk to me like I have an aim to destroy populations of turtles. Not until you have walked in my shoes.
Trey
803.665.8225