Changes Proposed for New York State’s Endangered Species Laws.  Box turtles, mud turtles, and eastern softshells are to be offered additional protection, but diamondback terrapins would lose their status of Special Concern. Removal of the diamondback terrapin from Special Concern will not, however, affect the protective regulations enacted for them in 1990 (see Protection for Diamondback Terrapin in New York State).  To learn more about the currently proposed changes in New York’s endangered species laws, see the following link (close browser window to return to this page):

     Proposed Changes to Endangered Species List (DEC site with link to reptile species changes)