Terrapin Talk at Delaware Seashore State Park

Location: Delaware Seashore State Park - Indian River Life-Saving Station

July 12,2009

Begins: 2:00 PM

Learn about the turtles crossing the road in Delaware Seashore State Park

Summertime visitors to Delaware Seashore State Park have no doubt noticed the highway signs asking motorists to avoid striking turtles on the State Route 1 as it passes through the Park. The crawling creatures that try to cross the highway are Diamondback Terrapins who are leaving Indian River Bay and Rehoboth Bay to look for nesting areas in the sand dunes.

The Park is offering a Terrapin Talk to acquaint visitors with these fascinating reptiles and to explain their lifecycles and their habitat needs.

Participants will find out what Delaware State Parks and other agencies are doing to protect these ancient creatures, have an opportunity to see and touch turtle artifacts, and maybe find a live specimen or nesting site.

The Diamondback Terrapin inhabits salt marshes and estuaries from New York to Virginia, but seeks nesting sites on land. They are the most common brackish water tutle in coastal Delaware.

The fee for this program is $3 and those interested should meet at the Indian River Life-Saving Station, about 1.5 miles north of Indian River Inlet on Route One.

For more information on these and other programs offered by Delaware Seashore State Park, call 302-227-6991 or visit www.destateparks.com.