Diamondback terrapins are the only resident turtle within brackish water and estuarine systems. Their range extends from Massachusetts to Texas but, prior to 2005, their existence in the Florida panhandle was undocumented. The Panhandle ... READ MORE
Category: Coasts & Marine, Natural Resources, Wildlife
Since 2007 Florida Sea Grant has worked with partners, and trained volunteers, to assess the status of the diamondback terrapin in the Florida panhandle. This small emydid turtle is the only one that lives in brackish water and prefers salt ... READ MORE
Category: Coasts & Marine, Natural Resources
One of the programs I focus on as a Sea Grant Extension Agent in Escambia County is restoring the health of our estuary. One of the projects in that program is increasing the encounters with estuarine animals that were once common. Currently ... READ MORE
Category: Coasts & Marine, Natural Resources
As the Sea Grant Extension Agent in Escambia County, one of my program areas is to help restore a healthy estuary. To do this we focus on educating the public how to improve water quality, restore habitat, and manage invasive species, but ... READ MORE
Category: Coasts & Marine, Natural ResourcesIn my time educating the public about Florida turtles I have found that most Floridians have not heard of diamondback terrapins. They have heard of, and seen turtles, but are not sure what the names of the different species are and are not ... READ MORE
Category: Coasts & Marine, Natural ResourcesDiamondback terrapins are a flagship species for coastal salt marshes. In the attempt to assess the health of the Pensacola Bay system, Florida Sea Grant seeks volunteers to help monitor selected beaches in the bay area for the presence of ... READ MORE
Category: Coasts & MarineVolunteers in Escambia and Santa Rosa counties have been assisting Florida Sea Grant with surveying our bay area for indicator species. Bay scallops were once found in high enough numbers to support both a commercial and recreational harvest, ... READ MORE
Category: Community Volunteers, Water, WildlifeMany folks are putting together a “bucket list” of things they would like to do or see before they can no longer do them. For many interested in natural resources there are certain national parks and scenic places they would like to visit. ... READ MORE
Category: Natural ResourcesDiamondback terrapins are the only brackish water turtles in the United States. They prefer salt marshes and can be used as an indicator of the health of our bay. To that end Sea Grant Agent Rick O'Connor provides training on how to monitor ... READ MORE
Category: WildlifeThey are marvelous creatures and there are very few panhandle residents who know what they are. My wife and I were introduced to Diamondback Terrapins by George Heinrich in 2005. George was the president of a nonprofit, Florida Turtle Conservation ... READ MORE
Category: Natural Resources