New Jersey's native marsh-dwelling diamondback terrapin turtle has suffered a major decline over the past twelve years. Terrapins on Sedge Island near the Barnegat inlet declined from 100 in 2002 to only 70 in 2014. Cars and development on their habitats kills turtles, and climate change poses a long-term threat. Warmer temperatures skew sex ratios of turtle embryos.
In the 1800s, hunters posed the biggest threat to these turtles, collecting as many as 400,000 pounds each year for use in turtle soup. The populations dropped so much by the 1920s that hunters took less than 1,000 pounds a year. Despite this decline, terrapin hunting and capturing is still legal in New Jersey.
This declining species cannot afford any more deaths. Please sign the petition to urge New Jersey Legislators to make it illegal to hunt terrapins or capture them as pets.
We, the undersigned, are concerned about the lack of legislation protecting New Jersey's declining diamondback terrapin turtle populations.
New Jersey's native marsh-dwelling diamondback terrapin turtle has suffered a major decline over the past twelve years. Terrapins on Sedge Island near the Barnegat inlet declined from 100 in 2002 to only 70 in 2014. Cars and development on their habitats kills turtles, and climate change poses a long-term threat. Warmer temperatures skew sex ratios of turtle embryos.
In the 1800s, hunters posed the biggest threat to these turtles, collecting as many as 400,000 pounds each year for use in turtle soup. The populations dropped so much by the 1920s that hunters took less than 1,000 pounds a year. Despite this decline, terrapin hunting and capturing is still legal in New Jersey.
This declining species cannot afford any more deaths. We respectfully urge you to make it illegal to hunt terrapins or capture them as pets. Thank you for taking the time to read and consider our petition.
