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🐢Rescued terrapin hatchlings get a winter lifeline in Jersey City
️🐢 Liberty Science Center becomes a temporary home for endangered turtles
🐢 Conservationists highlight threats to New Jersey’s coastal ecosystems
JERSEY CITY — Five rescued diamondback terrapin hatchlings from Long Beach Island will have a temporary home during the winter at a popular New Jersey interactive science museum and learning center.
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Liberty Science Center welcomes rescued diamondback terrapins
Liberty Science Center in Jersey City just welcomed the baby terrapin turtles.
Since they were discovered so late in the season, long after they should have been safely nestled in their winter habitats, LSC will care for the hatchlings through the cold winter months before releasing them in the spring.
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Five baby terrapins were rescued in LBI and will live out the winter months in Jersey City (Liberty Science Center)
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Project Terrapin leads Long Beach Island turtle rescue
The hatchlings were collected from a monitored nesting site on Long Beach Island by a team at Project Terrapin, a research and education initiative dedicated to protecting New Jersey’s diamondback terrapin populations.
Through hands-on science, habitat conservation, and community engagement, Project Terrapin works to ensure the continued survival of this important coastal species.
Five baby terrapins were rescued in LBI and will live out the winter months in Jersey City (Liberty Science Center)
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Baby terrapins in ‘Our Hudson Home’ exhibit
The hatchlings are currently off exhibit, but will be appearing in programs after they have adjusted to their new home, said LSC’s Director of Animal Husbandry, Melissa Chin.
During their stay, the terrapins will be housed within LSC’s “Our Hudson Home” exhibit, where guests can learn about Hudson River wildlife and the importance of local ecosystem conservation.
The exhibit features local species, hands-on interactive elements, and real-time examples of environmental stewardship, including the terrapins’ rescue story.
They will be returned to Long Beach Island in late May, Chin said.
Five baby terrapins were rescued in LBI and will live out the winter months in Jersey City (Liberty Science Center)
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Why diamondback terrapins matter to New Jersey’s coast
“Diamondback terrapins are the only turtles in the world that spend their entire lives in brackish coastal marshes. They serve as an indicator species, helping to monitor the health of NJ’S salt marshes. Their presence and population health reflect the overall conditions of these ecosystems, which are vital for biodiversity and coastal protection,” Chin said.
However, their populations are threatened by things like habitat loss and road mortalities, making their conservation crucial for New Jersey’s coastal ecosystems.
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Project Terrapin supports habitat projects throughout the Barnegat Bay watershed, using research to develop sound conservation projects and educational initiatives, and promoting diamondback terrapin research, conservation, and education.
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NJ DOT’s Electronic Sign Safety Messages December 2025
The NJ Department of Transportation has brought back huumorus safety messages to its electronic signs all over the state for the holidays.They will appear in partnership with the NJ State Police Office of Homeland Security through Jan. 5, 2026.
The messages run in rotation seven days a week from 7 a.m. – 9 p.m. on signs all around the state except when the signs are reporting incidents, construction, planned special events, or during a weather activation.
Gallery Credit: Dan Alexander







