Texas Bans Commercial Wild Turtle Trapping
An Animal Rights Article from All-Creatures.org

FROM

Center for Biological Diversity
August 2018

Texas is the latest in a growing list of states — including Missouri, New York and Iowa — that have ended unlimited turtle collection.

Big news out of a big state: The Center for Biological Diversity and allies have just won a lifesaving victory for Texas turtles. After 98 percent of public comments urged the state to outlaw commercial freshwater-turtle trapping, the Parks and Wildlife Commission voted unanimously to ban that harvest. The decision follows a petition filed by the Center and our partners in Texas.

"I'm so grateful Texas has adopted these badly needed protections for its native turtles," said the Center's Jenny Loda. "This is a big victory for the health of the state's wildlife and waterways."

Scientists have documented that freshwater turtles can't sustain any significant level of wild collection without dangerous population declines. Texas is the latest in a growing list of states — including Missouri, New York and Iowa — that have ended unlimited turtle collection. 

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