
                         Roanoke Times
                 Copyright (c) 1995, Landmark Communications, Inc.

DATE: SUNDAY, July 29, 1990                   TAG: 9007290006
SECTION: SPORTS                    PAGE: E9   EDITION: METRO 
SOURCE: BILL COCHRAN OUTDOOR EDITOR
DATELINE: RICHMOBD                                 LENGTH: Medium

NON-GAME SPECIES PROTECTED

Plans by the Department of Game and Inland Fisheries to give protection to a greater variety of wildlife could mean new regulations on the gathering and selling of fishing bait and animals like box turtles and spotted skunks.

Several pages of regulations have been proposed by the agency in the wake of a new law by the 1990 General Assembly that makes it illegal to take, possess or kill any wild animal - from minnows to mice - unless regulations permit it.

Game officials have proposed an open season on so-called nuisance species, such as groundhogs, and on invertebrates, such as earthworms, but they are recommending new restrictions on species like spring lizards, mussels, box turtles and mad toms.

"Wildlife is considered to be the property of the people of the commonwealth and should not be exploited," said David Whitehurst, chief of the department's Fish Division.

Under the proposals, which will be given final consideration at a meeting Aug. 31 in Richmond, individuals would be limited to 50 minnows collected for bait. A total of three box turtles, 20 mad toms or lizards, or 15 bullfrogs could be collected, but not sold. Species like shad and alewives could be caught for bait, but could not be sold.

No mussels could be removed from the Clinch, Powell and the North, South and Middle forks of the Holston rivers and their tributaries, or from the James River west of U.S. 29.

Game officials said a number of amphibians and reptiles are being collected and sold at a rate that could be harmful to the population.

"There has been a wholesale market for box turtles," said Jack Randolph, assistant director of the Game and Fish Department. "They have been caught, packaged and shipped out West. There is a market in snakes. There are people who collect all types of animals and take them to pet shops, including many species of fish."

While mammals such as coyotes and house mice won't be protected, the spotted skunk, which is limited to about eight mountain counties, would be. Under the agency's proposals, the pelt of the spotted skunk could not be sold.

The department will advertise its proposals before the August meeting.

by CNB