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Photo Don Lewis
It’s a dangerous world out there for tiny turtle hatchlings, but the weather is making it a little easier for them this year: warm temps are allowing them to run faster from predators. |
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Photo Kaimi Rose Lum
A young diamondback, transmitter attached, hightails it to safety. |
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Turtles benefit from toasty weather
Banner Daily Update posted Mon. Oct. 8
By Kaimi Rose Lum
Banner Staff
WELLFLEET — Bird migrations may be slightly off kilter due to the balmy fall weather, but turtle maneuvers have never been more on the mark. Authorities at the Wellfleet Bay Wildlife Sanctuary say it’s been a banner season for diamondback terrapins, in part because the warm, dry conditions have put a spring in the newborn turtles’ step, enabling them to scurry out of predators’ reach more quickly than they would be able to if it were chilly out.
“Generally, turtles that are hatching in October are pretty vulnerable,” said Bob Prescott, director of the sanctuary. Once they emerge from the egg, the potato chip-sized baby terrapins are easily snapped up by foxes, skunks and other animals. If only they could get their legs working quickly enough, they might be able to reach safety under a rock or in the grass. Unfortunately, the cool weather characteristic of this time of year tends to slow the cold-blooded creatures down.
But not these latest hatchlings. Favorable temperatures are giving them the little boost they need to get out of harm’s way.
“They’ll be a little quicker and more alert and a little less sluggish because of the cold,” said Prescott of the terrapins expected to hatch late last week, when warm weather was predicted. “They’ll be able to get to a hiding spot.”
Overall, “We’re having a tremendous year for diamondback terrapin hatchlings,” he said. Turtle nests at the sanctuary and on Lieutenant Island may end up producing up to 1,000 hatchlings.
For more on weather effects on animals including the fall bird migration, see the Oct. 11 Provincetown Banner.
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Oct 4th, 2007