Terrapin Nesting Project
STATUS
Ongoing / Partner Program
Region
New Jersey, U.S.A.
Protected Species
Diamondback Terrapin
Malaclemys terrapin terrapin
Vulnerable
About the Program
The Terrapin Nesting Project (TNP) is located in Long Beach Island, New Jersey. This program, founded in 2011 by educator Kathy Lacey, focuses on the conservation of the Diamondback Terrapin (Malaclemys terrapin terrapin), a turtle native to the coastal marshes of the East Coast. A unique feature of the species is that it lives in brackish water and is called Diamondback Terrapin due to the beautiful pattern on its shell. The Turtle Conservancy has been supporting the TNP in the conservation and protection of this sensitive species since 2016.
Help us raise funds to help this important initiative
Fundraising Goal: $50,000
To to support education, more hatcheries, and nest monitoring in 2025
Donate Now
Historically, the sweet meat of Diamondback Terrapins has been heavily consumed at gourmet restaurants. The turtles are no longer collected for food but still suffer from many human-related threats such as commercial fishing and bycatches. Habitat loss, fragmentation, and the presence of roads negatively affects the reproduction of the species. Additionally, their nests, hatchlings, and adults are commonly consumed by such predators as racoons, ravens, gulls, foxes, or rats. Finally, due to their beautiful, unique shells, Terrapins are still highly coveted for the pet trade and occasionally poached out of the wild.
Volunteer releasing a hatchling in the wild
Diamondback Terrapin (Malaclemys terrapin terrapin) hatchling
Volunteers digging up a nest
How we protect the species
The program focuses on protecting nests sites and maintaining them suitable for females, as well as managing hatcheries where eggs are incubated and newly hatched turtles are released in the wild. Volunteers, who help vulnerable females while they lay eggs, collect data, raise awareness in local communities, and even patrol roads to help females while crossing . Re-beaching initiatives also help create new and better nesting sites for females. The program—which has enabled tens of thousands of hatchlings to be rewilded—is releasing more turtles every year.
The TNP's success was further bolstered by the involvement of numerous local families, Girl Scout and Brownie groups, 4-H programs, college students, and others through their adopt-a-nest program. Community engagement grows each year, spreading awareness of terrapins on Long Beach Island and those threats facing the global environment.
To protect Diamondback Terrapins and their nests through education and volunteer commitment: https://www.terrapinnestingproject.org
Volunteers releasing newborn turtles
Diamondback Terrapin (Malaclemys terrapin terrapin) hatchlings
Involving the new generation is crucial for conservation
Volunteers releasing newborn turtles
Diamondback Terrapin (Malaclemys terrapin terrapin) hatchling
Volunteers releasing newborn turtles
Diamondback Terrapin (Malaclemys terrapin terrapin) hatchlings
Involving the new generation is crucial for conservation
Volunteers releasing newborn turtles
Diamondback Terrapin (Malaclemys terrapin terrapin) hatchling
Partners
