Every spring and summer, one of the Jersey Shore’s most remarkable wildlife migrations takes place right before our eyes. Unfortunately, many people never realize it.
As you drive across the causeway connecting the mainland to our barrier islands, what may appear to be a small piece of debris on the road could actually be a female diamondback terrapin making a critical journey to lay her eggs.
This is breeding season, and these turtles need our help.
Why Are Terrapins Crossing Downbeach Express Causeway?
Diamondback terrapins are unique turtles that live in the salt marshes and coastal estuaries of New Jersey. Unlike freshwater turtles, terrapins thrive in the brackish waters found throughout the back bays of Atlantic County.
During late spring and early summer, female terrapins leave the marshes and waterways in search of higher, sandy ground where they can safely lay their eggs.
Unfortunately, modern roads and causeways often sit directly between the marsh habitat and suitable nesting sites.
As a result, female terrapins are forced to cross busy roadways—including our local causeways—to reach nesting areas. After laying their eggs, they must make the return trip back to the marsh.
For many turtles, this journey can be deadly.
Slow down on Causeways, Downbeach express
During nesting season, remain alert when driving across causeways and roads adjacent to marshes.
Read More at SustainableSherri.com
The reason these turtles are always in danger is because of overdevelopment on these barrier islands mostly on the bay side.
They used to be natural beaches were they came to lay their eggs. Those beaches are mostly gone
The developers filled in areas and built bulkheads with some docks effectively cutting of the beachfronts. So now they head to area’s of the heavily traveled roads heading into the shore areas like the Margate bridge road. These developers and politicians who allow this to happen don’t care at all about the wildlife. Sadly its all about the money 💰. The love of money is the root of all evil.
The Longport–Somers Point Causeway (Route 152 / Longport Boulevard) is a major nesting highway for diamondback terrapins. Every year from late May through July, female terrapins leave their native salt marshes to lay eggs. Because coastal development has destroyed their natural sand dunes, these turtles are forced to climb the embankments of local roads to find nesting ground, putting them directly in the path of deadly shore traffic.
🛑 Why They Are in Danger > Habitat Destruction: Bulkheads and coastal homes have wiped out historical sand dunes.
The Longport/Somers Point causeway is like a terrapin Killing field. I don’t use the Black Horse, or White Horse too often, but I assume that they may also be killing fields. The Margate Causeway has those terrapin barriers, that prevent them from entering the road. For the past several years volunteers placed them there. This year, I believe that the bridge company did the work. Perhaps the county could find a few $ to do the county roads, or get together with private organization(s) to do so.
What FRIES MY ASS, is when you see them crushed, well into the shoulder of the road. That means that some COWARDLY SCUMBAG intentionally ran them over.
Please slow down and be aware of the Turtles crossing. Let’s enjoy the season and be responsible.
If you decide to help a turtle make it across the road, be careful for your safety, then help the turtle cross the road IN THE DIRECTION IT WAS HEADING! If you return it where it came from it will only try again to get across. Carefull.