Declining turtle population – threatened by illegal pet trade – is focus of multi-state effort Updated Jan 19, 2021; Facebook Share The decline of wood turtle populations in Pennsylvania and a dozen other northeastern states led to a 2020-21 federal grant of nearly $1 million for habitat work, battling against the illegal pet trade in the species and other conservation actions. Once abundant in many rivers and streams from Nova Scotia south to Virginia, the wood turtle has declined over the past century due to habitat fragmentation, dam construction, illegal collection and climate change. The grant is the latest push in a decade-long effort to conserve the wood turtle, which is a State Wildlife Action Plan priority species in Pennsylvania.