The Diamondback Terrapin
Last month, James Farm Property manager Bob Collins, fellow intern Eddy Meade, and I set out on Route 1 between Dewey Beach and Fenwick Island to set up terrapin crossing awareness signs for travelers.
The Diamondback Terrapin is native to eastern and southern United States and can be found in brackish waters near the coasts. These terrapins are plentiful in our inland bays but are in danger of being killed during their nesting season. The female Diamondback Terrapin lays her eggs from mid-May to mid-July in the soft sands of the dunes, across the highway from their normal habitat. During this time, drivers must use extra caution traveling along Route 1.
As the three of us traveled along the highway we too often saw the sight of a lifeless cracked shell. In three other instances we saw little black dots scurrying across the road ahead of us. We quickly hopped out of the truck, hoping that we could get to the terrapin before the traffic. Sometimes, we could only stand there, knowing that we could do nothing until the traffic was clear. One time, I watched as a dump truck came within inches of the terrapin as it hid inside its shell. Luckily we escorted all of them safely each time. CIB staff and interns saved six terrapins that day alone. While six may not seem like a lot, each female terrapin can reproduce for up to two decades. Therefore, each one killed is also a loss of all of the future offspring.
The Center for the Inland Bays would like to stress that you can help the Diamondback Terrapin! Follow these guidelines and you can help preserve the ecosystem:
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