Diamondback Terrapin Nesting
CONSERVATION
By Michelle Kaylor, Rehabilitation Manager
The 2018 Diamondback Terrapin nesting season officially ended on August 2nd. From the first Terrapin found on April 19th to the last on July 20th, 492 adult female Diamondback Terrapins were encountered on the Jekyll Island Causeway attempting to nest. Of those 492, 381 individuals were safely worked up and moved off the road– that’s a save rate of about 80 percent! A total of 173 eggs were collected from females who were unfortunately hit by cars during their attempt to cross the road and placed in our incubators. We are happy to say that over 117 eggs have already successfully hatched!
The 2018 Diamondback Terrapin Road Season could not have run so smoothly without the support from the Jekyll Island Foundation and its donors. We were able to purchase a much-needed jump seat for our DBT van. The seat positively influences Diamondback Terrapin road patrols by allowing for another individual to go on road patrols and ride safely in a seat with a seatbelt. We were also able to purchase reflective vest for all our staff on patrol so that they can be safely seen by motorist on and off the roadway.
