by Ethan Gilardi, Wildlife Biologist
Stockton University’s Vivarium Animal Lab is currently caring for 1,108 northern diamondback terrapin hatchlings recovered by volunteers from storm drains.
Each spring, these young turtles emerge from their winter dens and make their way across roads in order to reach their summer wetland habitat. While roads are dangerous in their own right, the young terrapins are faced with another obstacle once they make the perilous journey across the blacktop: the curb.
A curb is a veritable cliff to a young terrapin, who may struggle to surmount the concrete roadblock. In their struggle, these tiny hatchlings can find themselves slipping through the grate of a roadside storm drain.
Thankfully, local Good Samaritans have been using nets to recover the trapped turtles, which are then ferried to Galloway, NJ for treatment and housing at Stockton University.
These turtles will spend the next year at the Vivarium building up their strength before being released back into the wild.
A recent Facebook post by the University has been gaining national attention, with stories appearing on CNN, ABC6, NJ.com, and NJNN.
Check out the CNN story for a CWF shout out!
You can read more about Stockton’s work with these rescued diamond back terrapins at the links below:
CNN: A New Jersey university is caring for more than 800 baby turtles rescued from storm drains
ABC6: Hundreds of rescued terrapins receive treatment at Stockton University
NJ.com: 800 baby turtles rescued from storm drains in 3 Jersey Shore towns
NJNN: Stockton University Rescued More than 800 Baby Turtles from Storm Drains Around NJ