It’s Friday afternoon and we know what you need: Baby turtles! Lots of em!
I spent yesterday morning at The Wetlands Institute in Stone Harbor, watching juvenile diamondback terrapins be released into the coastal marshes near 7 Mile Island.
When nesting female turtles get crushed on the road, good samaritans bring them in, and the Institute harvests the eggs, incubates them and then raises they babies until they’re ready to brave the wild.
Billy Brown will have a full report in next month’s Grid, but for now, enjoy these adorable shots. For more on the Terrapin Conservation Project, click here.
Kindergarten students from a local school got their hands wet
The terrapins mentally prepare for freedom
Yeah, there was a guy in a turtle suit. Being an intern must be awesome.
Big turtle holds little turtle, impresses all
While walking to the release point, we came across a mama terrapin nesting right in the middle of the path. I haven’t seen focus like that since AI destroyed the Lakers in Game 1.
Free at last!
Careful there kid!
Off he goes
Adjusting to the new surroundings
What a beautiful day at the Jersey Shore
Awesome! Go turtles!
Awesome! Go turtles!
Awesome! Go turtles!