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Sierra Club and others urge KDWP to stop turtle races to protect ornate box turtle populations
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Summary
Public commenters, led by the Kansas Sierra Club, urged KDWP to use its regulatory authority to halt turtle races held at fairs and other events, citing research they say shows severe declines in ornate box turtle populations and risks from collection and disease transmission.
At the July 16 KDWP commission meeting in Russell, conservation group representatives urged the agency to halt turtle races and other recreational events that collect wild ornate box turtles for competition.
Felix Ravello, conservation chair for the Kansas chapter of the Sierra Club, told the commission he represents about 5,000 chapter members and said researchers and a multi‑institution field study have documented sharp declines in ornate box turtles in parts of Kansas. Ravello and other public commenters described risks they attribute to the races: removal from small home ranges, poor handling and care, crowding-related disease transmission and potential reintroduction of illness to wild populations.
"We believe that the Kansas Department of Wildlife and Parks has existing regulatory authority to stop turtle racing," Ravello said, asking the commission to exercise that authority to avoid pushing populations toward threatened or endangered status.
Several other callers and attendees echoed the concerns; one suggested reducing household possession allowances (currently two per household, a commenter said) and another asked KDWP to work with community fairs on alternatives such as rubber-ducky races or minnow races.
Commission staff and the secretary said they would work with petitioners and biologists to explore options, noting KDWP staff can provide stewardship guidance and outreach but that formal regulatory paths and conservation thresholds would require further study.
Ending Commissioners thanked the speakers and asked KDWP staff to follow up with the Sierra Club and researchers to evaluate evidence and options; no formal regulatory action was taken at the meeting.
