The Land of Ooze enjoys 13 foot high tides and minus 2 foot low tides, creating an enormous rim of salt marsh and tidal flats that a female terrapin must cross as she returns to the bay after nesting. She often rides the high tide into the sandy uplands, but the water drops quickly with a 15-foot tidal swing. Notice how well she blends with the habitat once she reaches the salt marsh grass.
Female Terrapin Heads Back to Bay after Nesting at Turtle Point
After a female diamondback terrapin lays her eggs, she covers her nest with the same care that she used to dig it. The finishing touch resembles a well rehearsed dance.
Female Terrapin Covers Nest
As tidal flats warm in the May sunshine, the northernmost diamondback terrapins emerge from brumation and laze about the Run south of Lieutenant Island on the Outer Cape. This young female savors the return of springtime in the Land of Ooze.
Young Female Terrapin Swims in Sun-Warmed Tidal Pool
Mid to late May terrapins gather in mating aggregations in the Land of Ooze where we sample them for capture-mark-recapture population studies. On release they love to play in tidal creeks and streams as they head back into the Run south of Lieutenant Island.
Released Terrapins Head Back into Wellfleet Bay
Within the diamondback terrapin world view, if the turtle can’t see you, then you can’t see the turtle. So, as long as the terrapin pokes its head deep into a seaweed clump and can’t see a thing, then it must be invisible. Blind equals invisible.
Terrapin Hides in Grassy Bottom of Chipman’s Cove