Slow Down to Protect Diamondback Terrapins this Nesting Season
Tybee Island and our surrounding waters benefit from rich biodiversity, with many plant and wildlife inhabitants. Our beaches and bluffs are an annual nesting destination for several turtle species, some of which are vulnerable due to habitat loss, road mortality, and other human-made and environmental threats. One such species that we implore community members and summer guests to look out for is the diamondback terrapin.
The only turtle species in North America that live their entire lives in brackish water, diamondback terrapins are named for their distinct, concentric carapace pattern, which features diamond-shaped markings. They contribute to the local ecological balance by hunting small invertebrates like periwinkle snails and fiddler crabs, which prevent these species from becoming invasive on the island. These shelled reptiles nest in various places on our island between May and July — and to protect them, we need your help.
Female terrapins climb out of our marshes in search of elevated ground to lay their eggs, which have holes in them that would cause developing turtles to drown if the eggs are laid too close to the water. Many of these nesting mothers cross Highway 80, the highest ground on Tybee, in their pursuit of ideal nesting places, and unfortunately, they are often struck by cars while doing so. Their deceased specimens can be seen covering the highway during this time of year.
To save as many as possible, Tybee Island Marine Science Center — a local nonprofit committed to cultivating responsible stewardship of coastal Georgia’s natural resources — is raising awareness and offering protocol about what to do when encountering a diamondback terrapin.
TIMSC biologists Sarah Alley and Olly Pettis conduct research about diamondback terrapins, and they offer the following advice to protect them this nesting season:
- While traversing Highway 80, drive slow and leave plenty of space between your vehicle and the next.
- Stay in your car at all times to avoid putting yourself and others in danger.
- Call the marine science center at (912) 786-5917 to report live or deceased terrapin turtles.
Alley and Pettis are experts in TIMSC’s Hatchling Headstart Program, which harvests and incubates eggs from deceased turtles. The hatchlings are then raised at the marine science center and upon reaching a certain size, they are released back into the marsh.
These terrapins are a vital part of Tybee’s ecosystem, and we must do everything we can to protect these turtles and ensure that they persist for generations to come.
“I’ve learned from turtles in general to take your time and go slow, “said Alley in a recent PSA by TIMSC. “Nothing’s wrong with finding the perfect spot for you.”
