Here in Delaware the beach roads are getting busy as tourists pour into Southern Delaware for their summer vacations. This is not great timing for our local diamondback terrapins who need to cross the roads. Motorists are being urged to watch for these endangered animals, who at this time of the year try to move from an inland bay across busy US Route 1 to lay their eggs in the soft sand of the ocean dunes of Delaware Seashore State Park, one of the state's prime nesting areas for this species.Maybe Delaware should erect a giant turtle statue as a warning to motorists. One like that in the accompanying photo might be just what we need! This is probably the world's largest tortoise statue--and is called "Myrtle the Turtle". It is located beside a highway in Joshua Tree California. Originally designed as a float in 1957 and made of wood and wire framework, it was given to the local Chamber of Commerce and later turned into a sculpture by Howard Pierce in 1998.
By the way, do you know the difference between "turtle", "terrapin" and "tortoise"? Be sure to stop by the LadyBug Shop & Turtle Treasures in historic Downtown Milford, on your way to the beach.
