RESEARCH > Adopt-a-Terrapin

Our terrapins need YOUR help!
           What can you do?
                     ADOPT A TERRAPIN!

Download Adoption Application

A terrapin hatchling emerges from its incubated egg salvaged from a roadkilled female.

What is a terrapin? Diamondback terrapins are relatively small, harmless turtles that live in salt marshes (like the ones at the Wetlands Institute!) along the Atlantic and Gulf coasts of the United States. Diamondback terrapins are closely related to freshwater turtles such as map turtles and red-eared sliders but terrapins are the only turtles that live exclusively in brackish water.

Why terrapins are important? The diamondback terrapin is a keystone species whose very presence contributes to the diversity of life and whose extinction may result in negative impacts to the salt marsh ecology along the Atlantic coastline. For instance, terrapins are the primary predator of periwinkles, fingernail-size snails that feed on salt marsh grass. In recent years, some southern salt marshes of the United States have experienced explosive populations of periwinkles possibly due to overfishing of their predators (i.e. bluecrabs). The increase in periwinkles has destroyed thousands of acres of salt marsh, converting beautiful marsh meadows into mudflats. The destruction of wetland habitats may lead to increased flooding, ultimately affecting coastal property values. Since the Wetlands Institute values the importance of diamondback terrapins to wetland habitats, terrapin research and educational programming has been the focus of our conservation efforts for two decades.

Why do the terrapins need help? Diamondback terrapins face a variety of problems attributable to human activities both historically and currently. In the late 1800's and early 1900's terrapins were hunted intensively because their meat was considered to be a gourmet delicacy. Consequently, terrapin populations were drastically reduced throughout their range. More recently, terrapins have lost most of their natural nesting habitat (sand dunes or barrier beach islands) due to development of coastal resort communities. Nowadays, the only nesting habitat available to female terrapins along the Atlantic coast of New Jersey is the embankments of roads crossing and adjacent to coastal salt marshes. Locally, many hundreds of adult female terrapins are maimed or die each year during the nesting season (normally late May through mid July) while attempting to cross roads in search of suitable nesting habitat. Sadly, these problems are not the biggest threat to terrapin populations at present. Throughout their range, thousands of terrapins die each year by drowning in commercial crab traps.

Local Stone Harbor/Avalon Kindergarten student and Wetlands Institute Scientist wave goodbye as they release a headstart terrapin back into the wild.

How is the Wetlands Institute helping? Every year, researchers at the Wetlands Institute help thousands of diamondback terrapins. Researchers engage in a variety of terrapin conservation projects including: road patrols, “head-starting” hatchlings, rehabilitating injured adults, study of wild populations, and public education. Moreover, Terrapin Excluder Devices, invented and extensively tested at the Wetlands Institute, are required modifications for some of the commercial-type traps used in New Jersey, Maryland, and Delaware.

What will your contribution be used for?
Your gift will be used to help defray expenses connected with a variety of terrapin projects at the Wetlands Institute including:

• Documentation of data vital for research and conservation activities
• Road patrols to remove female terrapins from roads before they get hit by vehicles, rescue injured terrapins, and save potentially viable eggs retrieved from road-killed female terrapins
• Hatching, “head-starting” and releasing baby terrapins
• Rehabilitating adult females struck by motor vehicles
• Publicizing the plight of terrapins in local to international locations

HOW CAN YOU HELP?
Click here to download an Adoption Application.
Please choose an adoption level:
___$500 Adopt a Transmitting Terrapin
Support advanced technological research by adopting a diamondback terrapin with a small transmitter attached to its carapace (shell). The transmitter sends a unique signal through the water to a receiver that is attached to a buoy located in the marsh. Each time a terrapin swims by an underwater acoustic receiver, information is recorded. The information collected by the receiver is used to determine where a terrapin is, the duration a terrapin stays in an area, how far it moves, and how long it takes to move from one location to another. This information is extremely valuable because little is known about terrapin movements. Receive an adoption certificate, a report on the terrapin movements (especially your adopted terrapin!), terrapin conservation brochures, a photograph of a terrapin with a transmitter, “Terrapin Times” newsletter, plus “Terrapin Crossing” goodies (sign, magnet and two T-shirts), and help release a head starter at a private terrapin release event during the summer! In addition, research scientists will take you and a guest on a boating excursion through the wetlands to view the telemetry equipment and to learn first-hand how it works.

___$100 Adopt A Dozen Eggs!
Can't stop with just one egg? Adopt a dozen! Receive an adoption certificate, terrapin conservation brochures, a photograph of a group of basking terrapins, “Terrapin Times” newsletter, plus a “Terrapin Crossing” T-shirt and help release a head starter at a special terrapin release event during the summer!

___$50 Adopt a head starter *Special Privilege*
Receive an adoption certificate, terrapin conservation brochures, a photograph of a terrapin, “Terrapin Times” newsletter, plus a “I Brake for Terrapins” sign and help release a head starter at a special terrapin release event during the summer!

___$30 Adopt a head starter
Receive an adoption certificate, terrapin conservation brochures, a photograph of a terrapin plus “Terrapin Times” (the Fall and Spring terrapin newsletter) and a “Terrapin Crossing” pin!

___$10 Adopt a hatchling
Receive an adoption certificate, terrapin conservation brochures, and a photograph of a terrapin!