Help Save the Nesting Turtles On the Margate, NJ Causeway

This Saturday, May 4th, the Margate Terrapin Rescue Project is holding its 10th annual Roadside Barrier Installation Day to protect the nesting turtles and they are asking for volunteers.

Spring is Nesting Season for Diamondback Terrapins

The annual turtle nesting season is coming to South Jersey's back bays and so is tourist season. Unfortunately, that's a potentially deadly combination for the terrapins.

Year after year in late spring, female turtles haul themselves out of the bay to find a place to nest on land. The female turtles climb up on land to dig a hole above the high tide line where they can lay their eggs.

In the process, the turtles may encounter dangerous situations crossing busy roads like the Margate causeway.

Why It is So Important That Turtles Are Protected

Because turtles are long-lived species that mature slowly and have fairly low reproductive outputs, the survival, and longevity of adults, especially females, is critical to the survival of populations.

Locally, the Northern Diamondback Terrapin is the kind of turtle you are most likely to see trying to cross the road in South Jersey.

The Wetlands Institute personnel documented over 10,000 terrapin roadkills between 1989 and 2011.

The Good Work of Margate Terrapin Rescue

Margate Terrapin Rescue, a group of local volunteers dedicated to installing and maintaining corrugated plastic piping to keep the turtles from getting on the causeway, is asking for your help with their annual project.

Volunteers are needed for the 10th annual Roadside Barrier Installation and Repair Day, Saturday, May 4 from 8 am to about noon to install and do maintenance on the piping.

Click the link for Margate Terrapin Rescue Project to see more information and to sign an electronic waiver for every person in your group.