We have all heard of turtles and tortoises, but have you heard of a terrapin? The Diamondback terrapin is a beautiful reptile with skin spotted like a Dalmatian and scutes, which are the bony plates on the shell, that are shaped like diamonds. What makes terrapins so unique is their preferred habitat: brackish water. Brackish water is found in estuaries, tidal creeks, and bays, making Massachusetts the perfect place for them to thrive. While their population numbers are doing okay for now, terrapins are declining due to getting caught in crab traps and drowning as well as being hit by cars. The good news is that there are terrapin friendly crab traps available and we can be more mindful when we are driving or hiking in terrapin habitats. See? It’s easy to help a girl’s best turtle out!