The Terrapin Institute is a public charity, a non-profit corporation licensed by the State of Maryland, and exempt from Federal income tax under section 501 (c) (3) of the Internal Revenue Code. Contributions to the Terrapin Institute are deductible. The Terrapin Institute is established under a simple goal: to preserve abundant populations of diamondback terrapins and protect the terrapin’s essential habitat.  Private contributions fund our modest budget; office space and research sites are donated, and staff is unpaid.

The Terrapin Institute conservation efforts are simple, productive, and measurable:

1.  Protect the adult population of terrapins by removing man-made hazards, discouraging commercial harvests, and purchasing market terrapins, mark and release them for later study;

2.  Increase terrapin reproduction by protecting eggs and hatchlings, head-start hatchlings in cooperation with citizens and students, mark and release all salvaged hatchlings for later study.

3.  Protect terrapin tidewater habitat by providing free advice to property owners and discouraging shoreline hardening. 

We measure our success one turtle at a time, one beach at a time.  As a result of our work, there are more terrapins in the Chesapeake Bay and more natural shoreline habitat to sustain them. 

The Terrapin Institute education efforts offer direct contact with the species and its habitat.  Citizens are encouraged to assist with conservation and research.  One learns more about our natural world by nurturing it rather than consuming it.  The Terrapin Institute is open to the public by appointment.   Our research site in Anne Arundel County offers examples of comprehensive natural resource management by local government, natural habitat preservation, restored shoreline and privatized conservation.

Through the Terrapin Institute over 500 students have learned first hand about their State Reptile and what it needs to survive.  Over 500 hatchlings have been head-started and released to the wild.  In cooperation with local government, private corporations and the Maryland seafood industry, over 4000 adult breeding female terrapins have been salvaged from markets in Maryland and returned to the Chesapeake Bay.

After the excitement of the turtle release race died down, Barry asked the George Cromwell pupils to think before they go to bed each night about where their turtles might be swimming.

"Then think about the things we do on land that hurt the turtles and things you can do to help them," he said.