VENTNOR, New Jersey — Ever since she was a child, Evelyn Kidd has been using a fish net to rescue diamondback terrapins from storm drains. This is a practice she is now passing on to her own children.
She believes most of the tiny turtles get stuck there when crossing the road to go from their nest to the bay.
After rescuing the terrapins, Kidd transports them to either Ray Scott’s Dock or Stockton University.
The Vivarium Animal Lab at Stockton University has been running a diamondback terrapin rescue program since 1989. Within the lab, young terrapins are nurtured until they are ready to be released into their natural habitat. Furthermore, injured terrapins receive care and rehabilitation at the lab.
In addition, the Vivarium has the capacity to save eggs from mother terrapins that may have been injured or killed while crossing roads. By managing the incubation temperature, they can control the gender of the hatched terrapins, ensuring that every terrapin born is female. This approach helps to maintain and increase the population of female terrapins, especially considering the number lost in the wild.
The Vivarium is currently at capacity to accept large influxes of rescued terrapins, but are able to aid those who are severely injured or have eye impairments.
They encourage those who find terrapins to call a licensed wildlife rehabilitator. If a terrapin is found healthy, their advice is to release them into a nearby brackish-water bay around sunset.
Diamondback terrapins should never be kept as pets.
For more information, visit the Stockton University website.
