Diamondback Terrapin
Malaclemys terrapin
Salt marshes, tidal creeks & harbor edges
The world's only turtle that lives in brackish water — salt marshes, tidal creeks and shallow harbors. Look for heads bobbing at the surface or turtles basking on mud banks; females come ashore in early summer to nest. Seatuck's Terrapin Watch maps nesting sites and hazardous road crossings.
Best months
JanFebMarAprMayJunJulAugSepOctNovDec
- Best time of day
- Morning
- How to see
- Scan calm harbor water for small bobbing heads and check exposed mud banks on sunny mornings. In June-July give nesting females crossing to upland sand a wide berth; report sightings to Seatuck's Terrapin Watch.
- Cost
- Free
- Age
- All ages
- Accessibility
- Shoreline viewpoints
- Responsible viewing
- Never move a nesting female; if one is crossing a road, let it continue in its own direction.
- Weather / sea state
- Sunny, calm mornings for basking and surface activity.