![\"05-11-1\"](\"http:\/\/www.turtlejournal.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2001\/05\/05-11-1.jpg\" "\\"05-11-1\\"")
<\/a><\/p>\nSteve Smith, Curator of New Bedford’s Buttonwood Park Zoo in 2001<\/em><\/strong><\/p>\n Steve Smith, curator of the Buttonwood Park Zoo<\/a> in New Bedford, Massachusetts joined me at 0730 to sample the pleasures and excitement of terrapin research in the Land of Ooze.\u00c2\u00a0 We were blessed by sunrise temperatures in the low 60s, water temperature also in the low 60s, and a light refreshing 5 knot breeze out of the northwest.<\/p>\n Mature Female Terrapin Paddles through Low Tide Rip<\/em><\/strong><\/p>\n Everything combined for a great outing with fairly good visibility as terrapins streamed through the rip.\u00c2\u00a0 Steve netted the first turtle (#1064), a 12-year-old female of 18.55 centimeters length and weighing over 1100 grams.\u00c2\u00a0 We traded captures for the next hour with the final tally equaling four females and three males, none of which had previously been seen.<\/p>\n Mature Female Terrapin with Exposed Bone from Traumatic Injury<\/em><\/strong><\/p>\n As the tide ebbed, a terrapin pair nearly slipped by.\u00c2\u00a0 The male, covered in light green algae, hit the scales at 240 grams; the female over a 1000 grams.\u00c2\u00a0 She had sustained a severe injury to her left side some time ago, as it was well healed.\u00c2\u00a0 Bone was exposed along the marginal from mid-point on the left side to the rear quadrant.\u00c2\u00a0 The trailing edge of her left rear foot was also affected.<\/p>\n Tiny Over-Wintered Terrapin Hatchling in Coyote Paw Print<\/em><\/strong><\/p>\n As we left the beach, we decided on the spur of the moment to visit the nesting areas and nursery marsh around Turtle Point \u00e2\u20ac\u201d even though it\u00e2\u20ac\u2122s a month shy of the season \u00e2\u20ac\u201d to give Steve a sense of what the habitat looks and feels like.\u00c2\u00a0 As we rounded the hill, I mentioned that a coyote had been frequenting this area and digging in the dunes where nests had been laid and hatched last year.\u00c2\u00a0 I pointed to a newly excavated spot with the paw print of a coyote still clearly visible in the sand, and then my mouth dropped to the ground.\u00c2\u00a0 Hunkered in the shade of this paw print was a terrapin hatchling!\u00c2\u00a0 We both thought the worst, because it didn\u00e2\u20ac\u2122t move and its eyes seemed shut for good.\u00c2\u00a0 But as Steve held the baby in his palm, it began to stretch its neck and legs.<\/p>\n<\/a><\/p>\n<\/a><\/p>\n<\/a><\/p>\n