Project Headstart and any late egg laying Diamondback Terrapins have their eggs removed from their nest and placed in a incubator. After they hatch, schools raise terrapins in the classroom from September through May and then they release them into the Barnegat Bay. By feeding them in the winter it increases their likelihood to survival by 33%! Our Central students feed them scallops, shrimp and manufactured daily turtle food. Once a week they check the salinity level and temperature of the tank, measure the size and growth of these reptiles. Including their shell, mass and weight. All the data is recorded. Up until last June, it was legal to hunt them in New Jersey. Sadly their numbers were dwindling. From last June on the law was changed so that they are a non game species and it is illegal to hunt them in New Jersey. Hopefully these numbers will rise. Centrals Marine Biology class and O.C.E.A.N club learn the history of the Diamondback Terrapins before they take care of them! These classes released these turtles on Saturday, May 20th at 10:30am at Island Beach State Park.
