Sea turtles are uncommon summer visitors to the bay, but we have spotted them on our Ocean Adventures boat trips in the summer.

Sometimes they are stranded and "cold-shocked" in the fall.

 (Left) The Diamond-backed Terrapin is the only common turtle found in the bay. This female was trying to cross the road to lay her eggs in the dunes.

(Below) Snapping turtles live in the upper bay and in ponds, preferring freshwater. Large females are the only ones seen on land when they are trying to find a nesting spot. After incubating about 110-days, the hatchlings must cross roads to get back to the water, and many do not survive the trip and are eaten by raccoons or hit by cars.

 

Painted turtles are found in the few freshwater ponds
on Sandy Hook. They are sometimes seen crossing
the road to lay eggs or move to new territories.

 

All turtles on Sandy Hook, like this terrapin hatchling, are protected and should not be disturbed or removed from their habitat.

Snakes are rare on Sandy Hook and all are harmless.
Road kills like this DeKay's Brown Snake are regular finds in the fall as these otherwise secretive snakes look for a spot to hibernate.

To read more about them, click here.