With spring fully here, it’s time for nesting season for turtles!
Here in Cape May County we have many different kinds of turtles but for this article we are going to be focusing on diamondback turtle.
Cape May County has many locations where turtles like to nest. They and other creatures can often be found nesting along the edges of ponds, streams, wetlands and sometimes on our beaches.
The first part of nesting process is finding a location. A female will walk around for a while until she finds a spot that she feels will keep her babies safe.
Once she finds one, she digs it out with her front legs and uses her rear legs to pat down the sand so that it’s smooth.
A female diamondback can nest up to 4 clutches over the course of 45 days. Each nesting period brings 6 and 10 eggs.
It is typical to see baby diamondbacks now as the nesting period starts in April.
Please be aware of baby turtles on roadways. If you see a turtle on the road, carry it across in the direction it is headed. Never pick any turtle up by the tail.
If you see a turtle nest, DO NOT go near it. The mother might abandon nesting if she feels unsafe.
If you find an injured diamondback terrapin, contact The Wetlands Institute.
If you find a baby terrapin, release it in some marsh grass or tidal rack near where you found it. Baby terrapins are very capable of surviving with no parental care.
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