Men - and women - at work on Stone Harbor Blvd, installing the new corrugated tubing terrapin barrier.

The Wetlands Institute’s Research Interns take a quick moment to pose for a picture, while in the midst of installing corrugated tubing along Stone Harbor Boulevard.

Hundreds of yards of corrugated tubing awaiting installation for Summer 2011 season.

The Institute has daily turtle patrols, traveling over 35 miles every few hours along barrier island roads to helping turtles cross roads, and picking up turtles hit by cars.

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CAPE MAY COUNTY - It's "Turtle Crossing Time" again! The distinctive "Turtle Crossing" signs are important reminders that terrapins are now nesting throughout the County. In search of suitable nesting sites, female terrapins often try to cross busy roadways, putting them in harm's way.

The Wetlands Institute research department was out repairing the terrapin barrier fencing on Friday, May 27, near the Institute on Stone Harbor Blvd. Turtles are out and about this time of year and the fencing helps to block female terrapins from crossing the roads to the sandy embankments on the sides of roads and boulevards. The barrier being installed today s a new, corrugated tubing system, rather than the more familiar fencing. The corrugated tubing is easier to install and requires less maintenance, but provides an ample barrier, as it is too slippery and too high for a turtle to crawl over. The work crew consisted of staff, interns and volunteers of the Wetlands Institute’s research department. More information about the corrugated tube barrier system can be found at www.wetlandsinstitute.org/news/avalon-installs-new-system-to-protect-tur...

Unfortunately, the barrier is not fail-safe; so, the Wetlands Institute also operates a terrapin rehabilitation program that helps injured terrapins or retrieves eggs from road-killed terrapins. For information about this program, email terrapinaid@gmail.com

The Herald thanks the Institute's Patrice Miner for the photos.