Terrapin Education Research Partnership

Terrapins from Poplar Island are getting a “head start” on life! 

Maryland Environmental Service, representing the Maryland Department of Transportation Maryland Port Administration, collaborates with local organizations and schools to introduce hatchling terrapins into classrooms. These juvenile turtles, sourced from the Paul S. Sarbanes Ecosystem Restoration Project at Poplar Island, reside in classrooms from fall through the following spring. During this period, students assume full responsibility for the care of the terrapins. They gather growth data, observe behavior, learn care and husbandry protocols, and delve into the natural history of Maryland's state reptile. The head starting process accelerates the growth of hatchlings, allowing them to reach the size of a 2-3 year old wild juvenile terrapin in just nine months. After the students have cared for the hatchlings, the terrapins are returned to Poplar Island, where they are released into the Bay. This hands-on learning experience encourages students to actively participate in and comprehend the Chesapeake Bay restoration process. 

The program contributes to an ongoing research study led by Dr. Willem Roosenburg at Poplar Island. Dr. Roosenburg, a nationally recognized authority on diamondback terrapins and an associate professor of biology at Ohio University, examines the impact of the head start program on terrapin survival in the wild. 

Before being released back onto Poplar Island's beaches, the head start terrapins are implanted with a Passive Integrated Transponder (PIT) tag. This allows for identification if the terrapins are ever recaptured. Dr. Roosenburg's study aims to determine whether the "head start" program truly enhances the chances of terrapins surviving in the wild.

Through this program, students actively contribute to cutting-edge research focused on the conservation of the terrapin species. The combination of scientific applications, hands-on involvement, and emotional attachment to the terrapins provides a unique opportunity to foster a meaningful connection with the Chesapeake Bay.

Watch! UMD's Terrapin Head-Starts from 2023-2024