Dept. Of Natural Resources To Release Rescued Terrapins Into Eastern Bay In Chester On Mon., June 12, At 1 P.M.

Dept. Of Natural Resources To Release Rescued Terrapins
Into Eastern Bay In Chester On Mon., June 12, At 1 P.M.
Terrapin Eggs Found Last Year in Garden; Raised by Volunteers Until Ready for Release
Chester, MD (June 11, 2000) - Maryland Department of Natural Resources (DNR) staff and volunteers will release three diamondback terrapins, which were hatched from eggs last year, into Eastern Bay in Chester (Queen Anne's County) on Mon., June 12, at 1 p.m. Last summer, the eggs were removed from a mulched garden on private property, incubated and hatched. Over the past year, volunteers helped raise the terrapins and prepare them for release back into Eastern Bay.
As part of an ongoing partnership between DNR Fisheries Service, the Wildfowl Trust of North America's Horsehead Farm Wetlands Sanctuary and private property owners, approximately 300 diamondback terrapins have been captured, tagged and released back into Eastern Bay. The terrapins to be released on Monday will be wire tagged for future identification. Northwest Marine Technologies provided equipment for tagging.
DNR and the Wildfowl Trust are continuing to study the level of terrapin nesting in the area. DNR is also working with landowners to voluntarily designate terrapin nesting sanctuaries. These areas are then marked with a sign that asking visitors to refrain from disturbing the beach.
In addition, DNR is working with area landowners who are undertaking shore erosion control projects, to design and build these projects in a manner that will allow for terrapin access to beach nesting locations. The excessive use of rock and other materials along the shoreline can preclude access to nesting areas for terrapins and other beach nesting species such as horseshoe crabs.
The shoreline where Monday's terrapins will be released was formerly protected from erosion by a rock revetment. Last year, the property owners decided to remove the revetment and install a more "turtle-friendly" structure. The current erosion control project was designed and built by Keith Underwood and Associates of Annapolis, who built cordgrass (Spartina alterniflora) islands just off-shore to diffuse wave energy. He also emplaced sand at the shoreline and planted the area with native marsh grass. The site will be formally dedicated as a terrapin nesting sanctuary on Monday .
For more information about terrapin conservation efforts or "turtle-friendly" erosion control methods, please Marguerite Whilden at (410) 260-8269.
Posted June 12, 2000