In the tranquil marshes along the southeastern coast of Massachusetts lives one of the few reptiles to exclusively inhabit salt marshes and estuaries—the northern diamond-backed terrapin, a striking species whose numbers have been steadily decreasing in recent years.

In a new partnership, Zoo New England and the Division of Fisheries and Wildlife (MassWildlife) are working to study and protect northern diamond-backed terrapins and the unique ecosystem of Buzzards Bay. This work is funded by a two-year grant from the Sarah K. de Coizart Perpetual Charitable Trust, which supports a range of species conservation projects in the Northeast.

This project, currently underway, aims to assess the current status of terrapins in the Buzzards Bay estuary, establish a framework for long-term monitoring, identify and prioritize conservation needs, and expand upon conservation initiatives already being undertaken by local conservation partners including the New England Coastal Wildlife Alliance (NECWA).

“We are tremendously excited to be part of the northern diamond-backed terrapin project, and have already had success in the field surveying terrapins to better understand their movements and use of Buzzards Bay. With climate change and coastal development, this project is critical to providing the information we need to plan how to protect this species and others who share the same habitat in the years to come,” said Matt Kamm, Zoo New England Associate Director of Field Conservation.

“Building on the long-standing work of local partners, this project will boost our ability to conserve this iconic turtle and our coastal ecosystems. This partnership will expand capacity to sample large areas more effectively,” said MassWildlife’s State Herpetologist, Mike Jones. “The variety of sampling methods we plan to use will yield high-quality data to support local and regional conservation planning.”

ZNE’s Field Conservation team is supporting the work by coordinating and assisting with the field work and outreach, and in administering the grant funds, while MassWildlife is providing field oversight and additional personnel. ZNE’s Field Conservation department is uniquely positioned to strengthen the Buzzards Bay Terrapin Project, as the team has a proven track record of engaging communities throughout Massachusetts in species-specific conservation efforts, particularly with turtles. ZNE is currently involved in projects to monitor and protect six of Massachusetts’ 10 native turtle species, with work focused on yielding tangible conservation results with hands-on involvement from local communities.

Many of ZNE’s turtle conservation projects are affiliated with ZNE’s HATCH program (Hatchling and Turtle Conservation through Headstarting program) - a nationally award-winning program that allows students from several dozen Massachusetts K-12 schools to “headstart” turtle hatchlings, boosting their chances of survival in the wild.

The northern diamond-backed terrapin is native to the brackish coastal waters of the eastern and southern United States. With distinctive diamond-shaped patterns on their shells, these turtles play a vital role in maintaining the ecological balance of the region, for example by cycling nutrients between the land and water. However, their population has faced threats from habitat loss, pollution, and climate change.

Their coastal habitats are especially vulnerable to climate change induced sea level rise. Terrapins are further threatened by development, pollution, road mortality, and fishing/crabbing bycatch. Terrapins have been identified as a Regional Species of Greatest Conservation Need (RSGCN) in the Northeastern United States and are listed as Threatened under the Massachusetts Endangered Species Act.