This week we documented 85 newly depredated nests along the one-mile causeway that we've been surveying weekly since May. We also documented 3 new road-killed terrapins, a road-killed muskrat, one terrapin swimming in the marsh, and one terrapin observed on land. We were also very happy to observe two drivers stop to help terrapins across the road. Brief interactions with these individuals indicated that they were glad to have helped the turtles get across the road safely.
I'm hoping that counting the number of unique terrapin nests can provide some insight into the number of mature female terrapins in this population. Along with a mimumum count of road-killed female terrapins, this information could provide a sense of how much road mortality threatens the persistence of this population.
There is a terrapin swimming in the creek in the foreground of this photograph
Road-killed terrapin
A terrapin observed on land, within 5 meters of the road. This turtle was likely nesting, but we did not get closer as to not disturb her
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