Join DWR’s Diamondback Dash this spring and protect the only exclusively estuarine terrapin species in North America

The Virginia Department of Wildlife Resources (DWR) is keen on helping protect the imperiled diamondback terrapins (Malaclemys terrapin) of Virginia and they need volunteers. Volunteers will count turtles and identify where, exactly, they were seen. The Diamondback Dash is expected to start this spring. Signup for more information.

According to DWR, “The data collected from the Diamondback Dash will be used to keep terrapins and other wildlife healthy and safe by identifying high-priority waterways in need of protection and prioritizing shoreline conservation in areas that are of high value to terrapins.”

This terrapin is found in “brackish water, saltwater estuaries and tidal marshes and can sometimes be seen in the Atlantic Ocean.” That's right, on the Northern Neck among other coastal areas of the state as is shown in the image below.

Again, DWR:

. . .the diamondback terrapin is considered a keystone predator of herbivorous crabs and snails in salt marsh ecosystems across the east coast of the United States, which means terrapins play a critical role in the maintenance of vegetation and overall marsh health.

Unfortunately, the species is in decline throughout its range due to a variety of threats like habitat loss, road mortality, nest predation, and mortality from crab pots. In Virginia, diamondback terrapins are listed as a Tier 2A Species of Greatest Conservation Need which means populations are at very low levels and/or occur within a very limited distribution. (Source)

The Northern Neck's portion of Virginia's 2015 Wildlife Action Plan includes the strategy “Maintain and conserve beach, dune, and mudflat habitats” and the action “1) Protect unconserved beach lands that support the Northeastern beach tiger beetle and Northern diamondback terrapin.”

The authors of the NNK section report that changes in the habitat are significant threats. They write,

Habitat Conversion/Alteration: Beach, dune, and mudflat habitat in this planning region is primarily threatened by residential development. The accompanying infrastructure being built up against the dunes and beaches can destroy or alter fragile habitats. Shoreline hardening is also an issue along the beach front. Hardening prevents natural processes from occurring and can result in erosion, displacement of sediment, and loss of shoreline habitat.

Photo by Hagerty Ryan, USFWS on Pixnio