Any day now, up and down the South Coast, hundreds of teensy baby turtles of different species – no bigger than a quarter – will emerge after weeks and weeks beneath the sun-warmed soil and make an adorable dash for their lives to their respective safety habitats. This moment right after birth is the most vulnerable period for the turtles, with one in 100 hatchlings surviving into adulthood. The journey from nest to their nursery habitat is, says “Turtle Guy” Don Lewis, the most lethal challenge of a turtle’s life.
“For scores of predators, hatchlings are tasty and crunchy and, like potato chips,” said Lewis, “you can’t eat just one.”
And as for humans, Lewis points out that people are also a threat to the hatchlings. Not through intent or malice, but through ignorance and inattentiveness.
“We run them over in driveways and roadways as they try to reach safety,” said Lewis. “Lawn mowers become deadly killing machines.”
Some species of turtles in our region, like the eastern box turtle and the diamondback terrapin, are under threat for endangerment. However, with a little help from humans as the eggs begin to hatch, “Everyone can become a turtle hero,” says Lewis.
Many communities are restoring turtle habitats, like the one that Jenney Lane residents have created at the cove in Marion. Some families are protecting the eggs throughout the spring and summer, watching out for predators. There are other small but important steps people can take right now that could help turn around the decline in turtle populations in the region.
First, before you mow the grass, check the vegetation for tiny hatchlings struggling to get across the lawn. Also, before you pull in or out of your driveway, look to be sure there aren’t any in your path. If you can’t transport the turtle to a safe area out of sight from predators, Lewis and his turtle partner and wife, Sue Wieber Nourse, can help if you find a baby turtle during this hatching season. They recommend you call the Turtle Hotline at 508-274-5108.
The turtle twosome say turtles are an important segment of the ecosystem. They are a signal system, living almost invisibly side-by-side with humans.
“By observing trends in turtle populations, we learn about the health of our own natural habitats,” said Lewis. “As populations decline, we know there’s something amiss; something we need to address for our own health and safety.”
Lewis and Wieber Nourse refer to a first encounter with a gentle turtle in the wild as “a signature event” in many lives. A moment when a person is baptized, in a way, into an interest of the mysteries of nature.
“The coming days offer a chance to engender that passion within a new generation of naturalists and to enrich our neighborhoods by preserving these important critters for our children’s grandchildren,” said Lewis.
It isn’t hard to be a turtle hero, Lewis says. “And it’s one of the most rewarding gifts you can give your future self.”
By Jean Perry
