Q: How many kinds of turtles live in Maryland?
A: There are 19 species of turtles in Maryland. Visit the DNR’s Creating a Wild Backyard: Turtles in Maryland (hot link: http://www.dnr.state.md.us/wildlife/waturtles.asp) for more information.

Q: How long can turtles stay under water?
A: It depends upon temperature and water conditions. Terrapins can stay underwater for up to five hours before they must surface for air.

Q: What kind of a turtle is it?
A: There are more than 250 species of turtles and tortoises, ranging in size from big leatherback sea turtles to teeny bog turtles. Tortoises, turtles, and terrapins are part of the order Chelonia. Those that live on land are called tortoises, while those that live in the water are turtles. Turtles that live in brackish water are terrapins. The shells of water turtles are flatter and lighter than those that live on land.

Q: Is it true that the temperature of a turtle’s nest can determine the sex of the babies?
A: Yes, for some species. Cooler temperatures tend to produce boys while warmer nests produce more female hatchlings.

Q: Are terrapins reptiles?
A: Yes. They are cold-blooded, tough-skinned (without hair or feathers), and breathe through their lungs.

Q: Is it a boy or a girl?
A: It’s hard to tell. Overall, females are bigger than males because they need to carry all of those eggs. In most cases, the boy turtle’s bottom shell (plastron) is concave (hollowed or curved-in) while the girl’s plastron is flatter, even a little bit rounded. Boys also usually have longer tails than females.

Q: How old is my terrapin?
A: Size is often the best indicator of age, but it’s difficult to tell. Newborns are about the size of a quarter when they are born. Within two to three years, males will grow to about 5 inches in length, while females take a bit longer—up to six years—to grow a bit larger, to about 7 inches.

Some experts count the number of rings on the scutes (plates on the bottom, the top, and around the edge of the terrapin’s shell) to estimate a turtle’s age. However, this method is not foolproof since these rings can be scraped and smoothed away with time.

Q: Where can I see terrapins?
A: Terrapins are rarely seen in the wild. Check them out at:

• The tanks of the Annapolis office of the Department of Natural Resources
• The Chesapeake Bay Environmental Center in Grasonville
• Herrington Harbour South Marina Resort in Friendship
• The National Aquarium in Baltimore
• Jimmy Cantler's Riverside Inn’s outdoor tanks (during the summer) in Annapolis
• Arlington Echo Outdoor Education Center in Millersville

Q: How can I adopt a terrapin?
A: While few terrapins remain available for adoption, some universities and schools are able to offer students and teachers the opportunity to raise turtles in the classroom for a headstarting program. For more information, contact Jeff Morgen at the University of Maryland Biotechnology Institute, 410.576.5778. Anne Arundel County public school teachers may call the Arlington Echo Outdoor Education Center at 410. 222.3822.

Q: Who is raising terrapins in Maryland?
A: Several elementary, middle, and high schools have been able to participate in the headstarting program. In Calvert County, a third grade project tied specifically to curricular objectives enables all 3rd graders to participate in a unique terrapin adoption program through CHESPAX, the environmental education program operated by the Public School System. As part of their regular science program, students complete an entire science unit in which they learn the natural history of the terrapin, threats to terrapin populations, and actions that can be taken to help to protect the state reptile. The unit culminates in a field experience at Flag Ponds Nature Park, where students conduct a habitat assessment of the site. Students use their findings to make a recommendation for or against the designation of Flag Ponds as a Terrapin Nesting Sanctuary. A highlight of the unit is the participation in the head-start project. Students work with their classroom teacher to maintain the turtles and to monitor their growth and behavior. Terrapins of Patuxent River origin are released at the annual Bernie Fowler Wade-in in June on Broome’s Island.

Q: Do terrapins shed?
A: Terrapins normally shed. That is how they grow. Females usually shed their scutes once a year and males shed once every three to four years.

Q: What do turtles eat?
A: Different turtles eat different things. For example, box turtles eat slugs, earthworms and other invertebrates that live on land. They also eat some fruits, berries and vegetables. Terrapins eat things they can find in the water, such as fish, insects, and shrimp. They like to grab their food while they are swimming about. Sea turtles eat all sorts of foods. Some sea turtles eat nothing but jellyfish while others eat shell fish and fish, even seaweed.

REMINDER: It is essential to use care after handling a reptile, including terrapins. All reptiles can carry germs and it is possible for humans to become infected by these germs. Please, be sure to thoroughly wash your hands with anti-bacterial soap after handling terrapins, or touching tank water even if you have worn gloves.