I'm sure it was immensively expensive to prove a negative!
As you point out, the poor landowner had already proved to the state DEP's satisfaction that no such endangered turtles lived there -- then shazzam, one appears out of the blue! And how convenient, right next to the parking lot!
I wonder if objective investigators could determine whether this miraculous turtle actually came from Mr. Maier's land, e.g., through soil analysis.
"The Land of Make Believe," btw, is not a plastic-y, evironmentally obnoxious amusement park. It's very low key and fits seamlessly into the surrounding area.
Maybe they could if they can find it! That's the outrageous part. The only evidence that this turtle ever existed at this location is the recollection of the person who reported it and the notation in his log. There is no turtle to test because nobody except Mr. Angus ever saw the turtle!
The DEP deputized these enviro-troopers and then gives them a tremendous amount of unchecked power. A notation in the log book, and suddenly part of your land is off limits. It is not the duty of the enviro-trooper to demonstrate that his findings are true. All he has to do is report them. And now the state is providing Mr. Angus' defense!