By MADDY VITALE
Each year, diamondback terrapins come out of the marsh in search of sandy soil to lay their eggs.
The journey can be arduous, especially since nesting season, typically May to August, coincides with the bustling tourism time at the shore.
While diamondback terrapins can live up to 30 to 40 years, traffic, roadwork and predators can be real threats. Sea Isle City turtle rescuers, Steve and Susan Ahern, who founded Sea Isle Terrapin Rescue in 2009, are well aware of the dangers that terrapins face.
Over the last month, the Aherns have seen turtles emerge from the marsh earlier than in prior years.
“We are seeing baby turtles crawling around town,” Steve Ahern said in an interview Tuesday. “They were out early in March when it got warm for a few days. They didn’t come out again, though, until it rained and temperatures got warmer."
Steve Ahern and Dodie Corretini check out the eggs and live baby turtles recovered from a nesting box in October 2023.
And while it doesn’t seem to be as active a season as last year, Ahern noted that he thinks "it will be a good nesting season.”
That is why the Aherns, along with a handful of volunteers, have dedicated more than 15 years rescuing, providing nesting boxes for female terrapins to lay their eggs, and educating the public about terrapins and the important role they play in nature.
There are two turtle nesting boxes at the Sea Isle City branch of the Cape May County Library. The boxes overlook the marshlands and have provided safe areas for the turtles to lay their eggs over the past few years.
However, Ahern noted that there were some breaches that need to be repaired.
“In May, we plan to put the lids back on the nesting boxes and plug up any holes that might exist that enabled creatures to get in there and cause trouble,” he said.
The third and newest nesting box was constructed last year. Volunteers from the Aherns’ terrapin rescue group built the box, which is on Landis Avenue and Second Street in Sea Isle, next to Strathmere.
“We have gotten enough eggs from there to say it has been a success," he said. "That was our best box in terms of turtles going in and out and predators not going in."
This summer, a resident will have their own turtle garden, with the help of the Aherns, he said.
“I don’t know the specifics right now of how big it will be. It is someone who lives along the marsh where turtles come right up on the marsh and in her backyard,” Ahern explained. “It will probably be a small area, not like anything we’ve ever done.”
"Watch For Turtles" lawn signs are available from the city's Environmental Commission. (Photo courtesy of Abby Powell of the Sea Isle City Environmental Commission)
Over the years, the Aherns have reminded motorists to use caution when driving during turtle nesting season. Posted signs throughout town warn of turtle crossings. In addition, lawn signs are available while supplies last from the city's Environmental Commission.
To date, the Aherns have released thousands of terrapins.
“In 15 years, we’ve released approximately 4,500 male and female hatchlings,” Ahern pointed out.
The Aherns hope their work has made a difference.
“Hopefully, it is increasing the numbers in the general area in Sea Isle, Strathmere, Corsons Inlet and all those areas close by,” Ahern explained.
While the Aherns do their part to help the diamondbacks, they hope that Cape May County will also work to repair some areas of Sea Isle Boulevard, where, over time, there have been breaches in the mesh fencing that prevents turtles from getting on the road. The fencing was installed about four years ago.
“We know that there are some areas there that need shoring up and we hope that it will be taken care of before the season starts,” he said. “It is a county road that serves as a gateway into Sea Isle.”
About 12 years ago, the Aherns installed special fencing on Landis Avenue at 20th and 26th streets to prevent turtles from crawling on the road.
“The county, which mows the area there, put up new fencing,” Ahern said. “It looks great.”
Mesh fencing prevents terrapins from getting onto the roadway, but over time there have been some breaches that need to be repaired.
