Here's more information about Sunday's column -- specifically, on the Maryland law regarding the keeping of Eastern Box Turtles. The law does not allow the keeping of more than one EBT taken from the wild, and that appears to have been Mr. Evans' violation -- he did not have a permit to keep an EBT nor could he prove to DNR that his turtles did not come from the wild.

"You must have proof that all but one of your EBTs did not come from the wild," writes Katrina Smith, of Mid-Atlantic Turtle & Tortoise Society. "If you have four EBTs -- three that you purchased from a breeder out-of-state and have proof that you acquired them from out-of-state, and one that you picked up off the road in Maryland -- you would be legal if you had a permit.  To have 52 EBTs removed from the roads or woods is illegal no matter what captive reptile permit you have.  A licensed wildlife rehabber likely wouldn't have that many, because injured wild turtles are released back to the wild once they have healed.
"The regulations first went into affect in 1993. Perhaps if Mr. Evans had proof that he acquired some of those turtles before 1993, or proof that he was given the turtles by other people, and he applied for a permit, those turtles might be legal.  But, the burden of proof is on the keeper.  No proof equals wild-caught in Maryland."