Three-Year-Old, Cold-Stunned Diamondback Terrapin
Those weeks between the depth of winter’s freeze and the arrival of spring temperatures in April present real risks to Outer Cape diamondback terrapins that have spent the cold, dark days since October buried under the oozy bottom of Cape Cod Bay estuaries, such as Boat Meadow Creek in Eastham. Not often, but with enough frequency to effect at least a handful of these threatened turtles each year, terrapins become dislodged from their hibernacula either through severe natural conditions or human intervention. Once exposed to the air and unprotected from nightly freezes, these critters face certain death unless they are discovered and rescued. (See Frozen Diamondback Terrapin Rescued from Near Certain Death in Wellfleet Harbor from February 21st.)
Low-Tide Drained Tidal Flats off Boat Meadow Creek in Eastham
Around four o’clock on Monday afternoon a call came into Mass Audubon’s Wellfleet Bay Wildlife Sanctuary. A local twosome, Donna Cary and Roger McKenzie, were enjoying a sunny afternoon beachcombing along the tidal flats when they were surprised to find a small, distressed turtle mid-way down the tidal flats.
Roger McKenzie and Donna Cary with Cold-Stunned Terrapin
As Donna noted, “It just didn’t seem to belong right there on the beach.” They scooped up the obviously troubled critter and brought it back to their nearby cottage. Having followed Mass Audubon‘s work with cold-stunned sea turtles, they laid down a towel on the floor and placed the terrapin in “dry dock” while they called for help.
Juvenile Terrapin Shell Shows History of Hard Life in Eastham
This y0ung turtle showed signs of a fairly hard life in Eastham’s Boat Meadow Creek. A substantial break in the shell between the third and fourth left costal scutes resulted from some earlier trauma such as a boat or instrument strike, since the wound had healed. She had scrapes and scratches on carapace and plastron.Â
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Cold-Stunned Juvenile Terrapin from Boat Meadow Beach
But her immediate problem is cold-stunning. The most worrisome sign is the bleeding around the eyes, which she has yet to open. Previous experience with terrapins that have endured cold-stunning has taught us that when the blood vessels in their eyes have popped, the chance of full recovery for release into the wild is vastly diminished. It may be an indicator of irreversible brain damage. Still, we never give up until the turtle gives up, and 24 hours is too soon to make a definitive prognosis.
Close-Up Image of Three-Year-Old Cold-Stunned Diamondback Terrapin
The close-up photograph above provides a clear view of her annual growth rings in the first left costal scute with the original hatchling ring in the center and three yearly growth strips leading to the suture.
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Recovering Cold-Stunned 3-Year-Old Terrapin in Rehab
This seriously impaired turtle is resting comfortably in rehabilitation “dry dock” in a warm, humid environment. Every few hours she is bathed gently in warm, fresh water to maintain her hydration while she recovers.Â
Cold-Stunned Juvenile Terrapin Resting Comfortably in Rehab