Not just a state symbol, turtles are keystone species

CENTREVILLE — Why did the turtle cross the road? To receive recognition from Queen Anne’s County Commissioners proclaiming June Turtle Awareness Month, of course.

Recognizing turtles as a vital aspect of the local ecosystem, the Queen Anne’s County Commissioners encouraged everyone to join efforts in protecting and educating themselves about the local terrapins as they recognized this June as Turtle Awareness Month.

The Chesapeake Tidewater region is home to numerous aquatic, semi-aquatic and terrestrial turtles and 11 out of 19 terrapin species are native to Queen Anne’s County in particular.

Jay Falstad of the Queen Anne’s County Conservation Association noted the county is a “liquid landscape” surrounded by water that is inhabited by a multitude of creatures, including turtles.

“And lots of them,” he said.

Turtles face numerous threats including habitat loss, pollution, illegal trafficking, and climate change, he said.

Every spring turtle crossing becomes prevalent as turtles seek higher dry ground to lay their eggs, Falstad said.

According to the Department of National Resources, the amount of successful turtle egg hatchings is about 10 percent, he said.

“So as a result, as a species, all turtles are starting to decline through a variety of reasons,” he said.

All citizens are encouraged to join in efforts to conserve turtles and preserve habitats including not disturbing nests and not transporting turtles to different regions.

Good Samaritans assisting turtles crossing the street are reminded to do so carefully. The majority of turtles are quite harmless but snapping turtles have powerful claws and a set of jaws, Falstad said. To prevent skeletal damage, turtles should never be picked up by the tail, he noted.

Queen Anne’s County marks the first county in Maryland to make a proclamation for the wellbeing of turtles, according to Falstad, “and hopefully we’re not the only one,” he said.

More information about turtles can be discovered locally as The Terrapin Institute is located in nearby Neavitt, Falstad said.

More information about Queen Anne’s County Conservation Association can be found at https://qaca.org .