by Ben Wurst, Habitat Program Manager
This past summer our legion of dedicated volunteers have worked tirelessly to ensure the success of our Great Bay Terrapin Garden. Their effort to locate and protect nests from potential predators, like raccoon and fox, have ensured that young terrapins have a much better chance of hatching. Once eggs hatch, young are able to leave the garden on their own, but some are collected for head-starting in local elementary schools. When they are head-started, these hatchlings stay active all winter and double or triple in size, which can also help their chances of surviving to adulthood. It is also a way to engage local students (and families) in conserving local species who are at risk, like northern diamondback terrapins.