The Meadowlands Blog

Terrapin time

  One of the great things about walking in the Meadowlands is you never know who you'll run into. I encountered this guy on the first day of summer.

  He saw me before I saw him, and froze. That appears to be a major terrapin defense mechanism: Act like part of the scenery until you decide it's time for Plan B.

  In the photo above, it's time for Plan B: Make a run for it.

  For a previous post on diamondback terrapins, including a short video, click here.

                                      -- Jim Wright for NJMC

HACKENSACK RIVER: Terrapins

   This is a great time of year to keep an eye out for diamondback terrapins and other turtles.

   They have been laying eggs for a week or two now, and sunning themselves on the banks of the Hackensack River and nearby marshes at low tide.

   They also go up on land to lay their eggs -- that's how the first image in this 31-second video was captured.

 Diamondback terrapins are amazing reptiles -- they are the only species that has adapted to living in brackish waters. They are a threatened species in New Jersey.

   If you want to see one, you have to be quiet -- they are typically very skittish. In the video, you can see the terrapins scatter as the camera boat quietly and slowly approaches.

   You can also read more about terrapins here.