The Eastern Box turtle meandered its merry way through the General Assembly this year only to die a disrespectful death on the floor of the House of Delegates.
Del. Frank D. Hargrove Sr., R-Hanover, was so confounded by the notion of enshrining the species as the state reptile that he cracked, "I don't know why in the world we need a state reptile."
Never mind, he said, embracing an animal that at the first indication of fear retreats into its shell.
Piling on, Del. Robert B. Bell, R-Albemarle, said box turtles "are extremely long lived, slow to mature and have relatively few offspring each year -- which means it's consistent with members of this body -- along with a propensity to get hit by cars."
It didn't help that the turtle's scientific name is Terrapene carolina and that neighboring North Carolina has adopted it as its state reptile. Senate Bill 1504 was steamrolled 28-69.
-- Olympia Meola
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