from the Annapolis Capital

Terrapin protection meetings planned ANNAPOLIS – A series of hearings are planned later this month on various efforts to protect the state reptile, the diamondback terrapin. Lawmakers are considering bills that would ban terrapin harvesting altogether. The Senate version of the bill will have a public hearing on Friday at 1 p.m. The House of Delegates version of the bill will have a public hearing at 1 p.m. Feb. 28. Del. Virginia Clagett, D-West River, is the lead sponsor of the bill. Meanwhile, the Department of Natural Resources is looking for public input as it considers changing the regulations for catching diamondback terrapins. The DNR will host a public “scoping meeting” at 6:30 p.m. Feb. 28 at its headquarters building, 580 Taylor Ave. in Annapolis. The DNR changed the guidelines for catching terrapins last year, in hopes of protecting large, reproductive-age females. But the harvest increased significantly, and now officials are rethinking their regulations. For information on the DNR meeting, contact Gina Hunt at 410-260-8326 or ghunt@…. Though terrapins are the state reptile and the mascot of the University of Maryland, little is known about how strong the population is in the Chesapeake Bay. Terrapin supporters worry that terrapins could be fished out of existence due to demand from Asian diners, who put the turtles in soup. – From staff reports Marguerite WhildenThe Terrapin InstituteP. O. Box 51Edgewater, MD 21037Voice 410 370 9171FAX 410 757 9268www.terrapininstitute.org “It is not the strongest of the species that survive, nor the most intelligent, but the ones most responsive to change.”