Critter of the Month

This is Turnip, one of our two Diamondback Terrapins here at the ELC. She was found here on Edisto Beach and is at least 30 years old. She is a gnarly carnivore who loves eating minnows and small mice, but nothing beats her favorite snack: shrimp! Her best friends are Evie, Juicy, and Rudy, some of the other turtles here. They love going for exercise outside, soaking up Vitamin D and playing in the dirt. Diamondback Terrapins are a vulnerable species, under threat of extinction in the wild because of human interference. Terrapins have been hunted for consumption in the past, but it is now unacceptable and illegal. Unfortunately, Turnip and her friends in the wild are known to get caught in crab traps. With no escape, the turtles eventually drown and perish. However, with the help of BRDs, which are easily backwards compatible into crab traps, turtles like Turnip are no longer trapped in crab traps. Next time you visit the ELC, be sure to say hi to Turnip!