Sounds like a hotspot for crossings...did you report this location to the linking landscapes? If you need that info shoot me an email & I'll forward it. Thanks for sharing your story. Glad you weren't hit too-sounds dangerous!
Christin McDonough, Wildlife Biologist
New England Environmental
15 Research Drive
Amherst, MA 01002
413-256-0202 X123 (office)
413-348-6866 (cell)
"Treeswallow5@aol.com" <Treeswallow5@aol.com> wrote:
Today around 2 PM on the Wareham/Marion town line, as I was crossing the Weweantic River, I saw a diamondback terrapin trying to cross the four lanes.....I pulled a Jason Statham "Transporter" -type U-turn immediately and went back, parked in the middle lane with flashers going (it really wasn't that dramatic, as no cars were coming yet) and snatched her up. But as I carried her back to the car, her head was tucked in, blood dripped down, and the back legs dangled.
Damn!! One car too late!!...
I place her on the mat under my feet and sped off to the home of a couple of turtle experts who just happen to live in Marion. Susan Weiber Nourse and Don Lewis... They have been monitoring and researching these terrapins in Southeastern MA for 20 years or more. Also volunteering out on the Cape at Wellfleet Bay.
My immediate thoughts were that if she was going to die, at least maybe they could save some eggs (why else would she be on land?) and also see if she was one their marked individuals.
I arrived at the their home...ran to the door....explained the situation (I had already brought another dead female there last year from the same spot!)...we went back to the car and as I was handing her over to Susan, she emitted an egg!!! Susan asked me to check the car, and I found another egg on the mat!!!! As we examined her and discussed the possibility of her surviving these injuries, she deposited two more eggs in Susan's hand!!!! Holy Crap!!!!
As of now (8:00 PM) I do not know her fate, but hopefully at least four of her offspring will stand a chance of making it.
Wow...what a day
Mike
Mike Maurer
Marion, MA
"The time to save a species is while it is still common" Rosalie Edge, Founder of Hawk Mountain Sanctuary
Today around 2 PM on the Wareham/Marion town line, as I was crossing the Weweantic River, I saw a diamondback terrapin trying to cross the four lanes.....I pulled a Jason Statham "Transporter" -type U-turn immediately and went back, parked in the middle lane with flashers going (it really wasn't that dramatic, as no cars were coming yet) and snatched her up. But as I carried her back to the car, her head was tucked in, blood dripped down, and the back legs dangled.
Damn!! One car too late!!...
I place her on the mat under my feet and sped off to the home of a couple of turtle experts who just happen to live in Marion. Susan Weiber Nourse and Don Lewis... They have been monitoring and researching these terrapins in Southeastern MA for 20 years or more. Also volunteering out on the Cape at Wellfleet Bay.
My immediate thoughts were that if she was going to die, at least maybe they could save some eggs (why else would she be on land?) and also see if she was one their marked individuals.
I arrived at the their home...ran to the door....explained the situation (I had already brought another dead female there last year from the same spot!)...we went back to the car and as I was handing her over to Susan, she emitted an egg!!! Susan asked me to check the car, and I found another egg on the mat!!!! As we examined her and discussed the possibility of her surviving these injuries, she deposited two more eggs in Susan's hand!!!! Holy Crap!!!!
As of now (8:00 PM) I do not know her fate, but hopefully at least four of her offspring will stand a chance of making it.
Wow...what a day
Mike
Mike Maurer
Marion, MA
"The time to save a species is while it is still common" Rosalie Edge, Founder of Hawk Mountain Sanctuary
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