Turtle Thrilled at Opportunity
to Serve Colorado
to Serve Colorado
DENVER—Today the Senate gave initial approval to HB08-1017, sponsored by Senator Jennifer Veiga (D-Denver), which would designate the Western Painted Turtle as the Colorado state reptile.
“I was so impressed to see the students from Skyline Vista Elementary School engaged in the legislative process to bring this idea forward,” remarked Veiga. “It was great to see the kids talking and the Senators listening. I’m delighted that Colorado now has an official state reptile.”
The Western Painted Turtle is the largest of the four species of painted turtles is marked with red, yellow and olive designs on its shell. The turtle is unique to North America, Canada and Northern Mexico and lives in ponds, lakes, marshes, and in slow-moving rivers that have soft, muddy bottoms.
Though thrilled at the opportunity to serve, the turtle declined to comment further on the appointment.
The bill will next be considered by the Senate on third and final reading.
