Welcome to Delaware's first Diamondback Headstart Program
Welcome teachers and students to the first official site of our DiamondBack Terrapin Headstart Project. This program is created to help DiamondBack Terrapin Hatchlings have a better chance of survival. Thank you for your help, support, and enthusiasm in giving these baby turtles a greater chance of survival.
This site will be used as a communication between teachers and students and anyone involved in the program. It would be helpful if we could keep in contact in all details relating to the project. For example, the set-up you are using, any problems you are encountering, any observations of the turtles behavior, or funny stories.
There is some good news to report, the state has been contacted and we are in the process of making this program official. Dr. Bill Hall DE College of Marine Science has offered his help in overseeing the project, which we are very grateful for. Also, at this point, we are looking for a veteranarian that has expertise in turtles to check the hatchlings prior to release due to the important fact that we do not release any sick or ailing turtles into the wild population. Eventually, I would like to try, as programs in Maryland and New Jersey already do, to harvest viable eggs from dead female Terrapin's that have been fatally injured.
You may post your comments on our message board. Teachers please contact me for more permanent posting on important information.
