Eastern box turtle may become PA state reptile

HARRISBURG, PA — The Pennsylvania house last week passed House Bill 621, naming the Eastern Box Turtle the official state reptile. The bill was sponsored by Rep. Lawrence Curry (D-Montgomery) at the urging of elementary school students in his district, and is designed to protect the turtle from becoming extinct in the Commonwealth.

“The number of Eastern Box Turtles is declining in Pennsylvania due to its loss of habitat, pollution, inability to find mates, being killed by vehicles, being taken for the retail pet trade and by predators,” Rep. Curry said. “Adopting the Eastern Box Turtle as our official state reptile would save not only these turtles, but other reptiles, as well.”

Box turtles are some of the longest lived of their species and commonly live up to 30 years, although there have been documented cases of them living as many as 50 years. While it can live in a wide variety of habitats, from wooded swamps to dry, grassy fields, it is found most abundantly in moist forested areas with ample underbrush. The turtles are omnivores, eating both plants and other animals.

The bill will now move to the senate.