It's a Turtle Celebration!
Where: Confluence Brewery (1235 Thomas Beck Road Des Moines, IA 50315)
When: 5-7PM March 31st
Why: On March 23, Gov. Branstad signed HF 2357, “the Turtle Bill,” into law!
- The Housed passed the bill March 8, 96-1.
- The Senate passed the House bill March 15, 47-2.
The bill requires the DNR to set seasons and bag limits for commercial and non-commercial harvest of Iowa Turtles. (Non-commercial harvest of snapper turtles only will have bag limits but not season limits.) This is a major victory over the commercial turtle harvesters who opposed the bill all the way and still oppose any rules. We may have some work to do as the DNR promulgates the rules, but we will have rules. The long delay of adequate rules has undoubtedly had a dramatic impact on turtle numbers in Iowa. Even with protective rules it may take 20 years or more for the numbers and sizes to recover.
Without all the public support Iowa would still be stuck without any protection for turtles. So, thank you very much for all your calls and letters – they were essential for this bill becoming law.
And thank you very much to all of the conservation partners who, by working together, made it possible to reach the people of Iowa and educate our legislators.
Now it’s time to celebrate!
We would like to invite you to a Turtle Happy Hour-Thursday, March 31 from 5-7.
Join our action partners in celebrating the results of some amazing grassroots organizing and action to protect these iconic species in Iowa. Come in, get your turtle sticker and enjoy some delicious local beer on us! (Donated by IRR supporters). Live music starts at 7 PM, if you want to stick around, and the 515 Pi food truck (formally Pyro’s Pizza) will also be available for food purchase.
No need to RSVP. This is just a way to say thanks and celebrate a victory for Iowa turtles. It couldn’t have been done without you.
Thank you, and we hope to see you there!
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