During the first several years of Wood's program, hatchlings were released at birth. The mortality rate was extremely high. Seagulls feasted, and foxes and raccoons ate what was left. Born in August and September hatchlings now spend their first winter on the terrapin farm of Wood's head start program. Between 200 to 300 hatchlings are released into the water each June.
Hatchlings have very high mortality rates.
We estimate that, at best, one out of every two or three that we put back into the water survives. Our roadkill figures show that between 500 to 600 are killed on the road every year. We're nowhere close to sustaining the population. In addition, says Wood, cars aren't the biggest terrapin killers. Diamondbacks are broad-spectrum carnivores, meaning they'll eat pretty much anything, and one of their favorite meals is the bait in commercial crab traps.