1040

LAWS OF MARYLAND

[Ch. 127

(F)    "NONGAME SPECIES" MEANS ANY WILDLIFE SPECIES
NOT LEGALLY CLASSIFIED AS GAME BIRDS OR MAMMALS,
THREATENED SPECIES, OR AN ENDANGERED SPECIES BY STATUTE
OR RULE OR REGULATION OF THE STATE.

(G)    "OPTIMUM CARRYING CAPACITY" MEANS THAT POINT
AT WHICH A GIVEN HABITAT CAN SUPPORT HEALTHY POPULATIONS
OF WILDLIFE SPECIES, HAVING REGARD TO THE TOTAL
ECOSYSTEM, WITHOUT DIMINISHING THE ABILITY OF THE HABITAT
TO CONTINUE THAT FUNCTION.

(H) "PLANT" MEANS ANY MEMBER OF THE PLANT KINGDOM,
INCLUDING SEEDS, ROOTS, AND OTHER PARTS OF THE PLANT.

(I) "SPECIES" INCLUDES ANY SUBSPECIES OF WILDLIFE
OR PLANT AND ANY OTHER GROUP OF WILDLIFE OF THE SAME
SPECIES OR SMALLER TAXA IN COMMON SPATIAL ARRANGEMENT
THAT INTERBREED WHEN MATURE.

(J) "TAKE" MEANS TO HARASS, HARM, PURSUE, HUNT,
SHOOT, WOUND, KILL, TRAP, CAPTURE, OR COLLECT, OR TO
ATTEMPT TO ENGAGE IN ANY SUCH CONDUCT.

(K) "THREATENED SPECIES" MEANS ANY SPECIES OF
WILDLIFE OR PLANTS WHICH APPEARS LIKELY, WITHIN THE
FORESEEABLE FUTURE, TO BECOME ENDANGERED INCLUDING ANY
SPECIES OF WILDLIFE OR PLANT DETERMINED TO BE A
"THREATENED SPECIES" PURSUANT TO THE ENDANGERED SPECIES
ACT.

10-2A02.

THE GENERAL ASSEMBLY FINDS THAT: (1) IT IS THE
POLICY OF THIS STATE TO CONSERVE SPECIES OF WILDLIFE FOR
HUMAN ENJOYMENT, FOR SCIENTIFIC PURPOSES, AND TO INSURE
THEIR PERPETUATION AS VIABLE COMPONENTS OF THEIR
ECOSYSTEMS; (2) SPECIES OF WILDLIFE AND PLANTS NORMALLY
OCCURRING WITHIN THE STATE WHICH MAY BE FOUND TO BE
THREATENED OR ENDANGERED WITHIN THE STATE SHOULD BE
ACCORDED THE PROTECTION NECESSARY TO MAINTAIN AND ENHANCE
THEIR NUMBERS; (3) THE STATE SHOULD ASSIST IN THE
PROTECTION OF SPECIES OF WILDLIFE AND PLANTS WHICH ARE
DETERMINED TO BE "THREATENED" OR "ENDANGERED" ELSEWHERE
PURSUANT TO THE ENDANGERED SPECIES ACT OF 1973, 87 STAT.
884, BY PROHIBITING THE TAKING, POSSESSION,
TRANSPORTATION, EXPORTATION, PROCESSING, SALE, OFFER FOR
SALE, OR SHIPMENT WITHIN THIS STATE OF ENDANGERED SPECIES
AND BY CAREFULLY REGULATING THESE ACTIVITIES WITH REGARD
TO THE THREATENED SPECIES. EXCEPTIONS TO THESE
PROHIBITIONS, FOR THE PURPOSE OF ENHANCING THE
CONSERVATION OF THESE SPECIES, MAY BE PERMITTED AS SET
FORTH IN THIS SUBTITLE.

10-2A03.