Diamondback Terrapin Under Review | Dover News

Dover News Today | 2 Min News | The Daily News Now! · Jul 13, 2026 · 1m

The U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service is launching a formal review to decide if the diamondback terrapin — the only turtle in North America that thrives its entire life in brackish coastal marshes — deserves protection under the Endangered Species Act. Triggered by a petition citing threats like drowning in crab pots, habitat loss, pollution, oil spills, and roadkill, the review will also examine whether four distinct regional populations warrant separate protections. Biologists will analyze all available science over the next year to determine if listing is warranted, not warranted, or if it…