By Maddy Vitale
When Steve and Susan Ahern retired and moved to Sea Isle City in 2007 they needed something to do. They joined the Wetlands Institute in Stone Harbor and the Environmental Commission in their new hometown.
That is where their mission to save turtles began.
“We vacationed here since 1994,” Steve Ahern said Thursday. “My wife noticed fewer and fewer turtles and more impediments with buildings and infrastructure. We decided to rescue turtles.”
Ahern, 65, a retired attorney and Susan, 63, a retired nurse who have two grown children, Michael and Jessica, set out to do a daunting task.
Diamondback terrapins lay eight to 12 eggs at a time and they come out to three times during a nesting season from June 1 to July 15. So, they set out to create nesting habitats for the precious turtles to try to save them from cars along Sea Isle Boulevard and other areas of the community, as well as predators.
Steve Ahern said Cape May County, the Wetlands Institute and the Sea Isle Environmental Commission, have been instrumental in making sure that their goal is possible through funding and installation of fencing as well as financial support for funding the nesting boxes.
Last year, with the help of volunteers, the Aherns installed a nesting box at the Sea Isle City branch of the Cape May County Library. It was so successful, that this year they are nearing completion of two nesting boxes.
“The idea behind the nesting boxes is to give turtles an alternative place to lay their eggs so that there are no concerns with the roads. The boxes are also for protection of the eggs,” Steve Ahern noted.
One of the nesting boxes is behind the library toward the marsh, the other is by Central Avenue. They are both about 12 feet by 28 feet.
And the design is intricate. A gate opens and closes so that predators can’t go in and get the eggs.
It seems to be working.
“Last year we saved 125 turtles,” Ahern said, adding that with a slightly new design credited to the Aherns’ son Michael, they are hoping to save even more turtles this year and beyond.
The design was improved by adding a piece of wood around the perimeter making it more difficult for predators such as skunks, racoons and fox, to dig their way in, Ahern explained.
Last year predators did get in.
“A lot of the nests were at the edges of the boxes and in some of the areas predators were able to dig in and get to the nest and get some eggs,” Ahern said. “I think the nesting boxes this year will be much more sturdy and effective. We are very excited to try them out.”
And the turtles seem amenable to using the boxes.
“Last year we had turtles walk in themselves. We would also put some in,” Ahern said. “They seemed to take to it very well.”
Ahern said the plan is to install cameras to know exactly what predators are in the area.
The city, through the Environmental Commission, funds the boxes, which cost less than $1,000.
The ultimate goal is to divert terrapins away from the roadways. One of the turtles nesting grounds used to be the sandy soil surrounding the old Sea Isle Boulevard.
But last year, Cape May County elevated Sea Isle Boulevard by 4.5 feet to protect it from flooding. In doing so it eliminated the old low-lying area that allowed turtles coming out of the marshlands to cross over the road to lay their eggs on the other side.
With the elevation, they can no longer do that.
“The county has been tremendous in incorporating procedures for the turtles,” Ahern said of the measures the county has taken to alleviate some of the turtle deaths along the thoroughfare.
“It is just a temporary measure. When the county finishes up in the fall of 2019, they have incorporated permanent fencing from the bottom of the guardrails for both sides. It would be extremely effective,” Ahern said.
The number of car-related terrapin deaths is substantial, Ahern said. The Wetlands Institute conducts road patrols from Stone Harbor to Corsons Inlet. About 500 turtle deaths due to motorists was reported around the nesting season. On Sea Isle Boulevard that number was approximately 75, Ahern said.
“It is a lot and that isn’t even counting the number during construction,” Ahern said.
In addition to improvements to protect the turtles along Sea Isle Boulevard, other fencing projects are going on around the city.
The Aherns, along with volunteers, have repaired fencing from 20th Street to 26th Street.
“It is dangerous for the hatchlings in that area,” he said. “Hopefully, we will be able to install a nesting box in that area.”
The Aherns are optimistic about the future of the terrapins and will continue their passion to save them.
“Turtle nesting boxes are vital. It will be a continuing issue. The best thing to do is keep them off the road,” Steve Ahern said. “The more we do, the better off it will be for the turtles.”
