Orenda Wildlife Land Trust

Orenda Wildlife Land Trust Our Mission is to Preserve and Protect Open Space for Wildlife Habitat, Fresh Air, and Water Quality in Sanctuaries on Cape Cod and throughout Massachusetts.

Non-Profit Land Trust based on Cape Cod protecting habitat for wildlife for over 25 years for Cape Cod, Southern New England and Western New England.

🐢 Four nests protected and counting!What a start to the 2026 diamondback terrapin nesting season! Thanks to the dedicati...
06/14/2026

🐢 Four nests protected and counting!

What a start to the 2026 diamondback terrapin nesting season! Thanks to the dedication of our incredible Terrapin Guardians, four nests have already been discovered and successfully protected.

Every protected nest represents hope for the next generation of terrapins and demonstrates the impact that volunteers can have on local wildlife conservation.

As nesting activity continues to increase, we expect more nests to be laid in the days and weeks ahead.

Terrapin Fun Fact: A single diamondback terrapin nest can contain up to 18 eggs, with most nests averaging around 10. Every nest we protect helps give an entire group of future terrapins a better chance at survival!

Interested in joining the effort?

We're actively looking for new Terrapin Guardians to help monitor nesting habitat and protect nests throughout the summer. No prior experience is necessary - we'll provide training and support!

If you enjoy spending time outdoors and want to make a direct impact on local wildlife, now is the perfect time to get involved.

Email us at [email protected] to learn more and sign up.

Please help us spread the word by liking, sharing, and tagging someone who might enjoy becoming a Terrapin Guardian!

Who will help us find Nest #5?

🐢🐢 Two nests in two days!Yesterday, we celebrated the discovery and protection of the first diamondback terrapin nest of...
06/10/2026

🐢🐢 Two nests in two days!

Yesterday, we celebrated the discovery and protection of the first diamondback terrapin nest of the 2026 season. Today, we're excited to share that Nest #2 was discovered and protected!

This incredible start to the season is a testament to the dedication of our Terrapin Guardians, who are out monitoring nesting habitat and helping protect future generations of terrapins. Every protected nest represents hope for dozens of hatchlings and a brighter future for this remarkable species.

With nesting activity clearly underway, we expect more nests to be laid in the days and weeks ahead - and we're still looking for volunteers to join the effort.

Interested in becoming a Terrapin Guardian? Learn more here:
https://orendalandtrust.org/nurture-the-trust/diamond-terrapin-protection-program/

If you enjoy spending time outdoors and want to make a direct impact on local wildlife, we'd love to hear from you. Email us at [email protected].

A huge thank you to all of our Terrapin Guardians for your time, dedication, and vigilance in the field. We couldn't do this without you.

Two nests protected and counting...who will help us find Nest #3?

🐢🎉 The wait is over!Nest  #1 of the 2026 diamondback terrapin nesting season was discovered and successfully protected t...
06/09/2026

🐢🎉 The wait is over!

Nest #1 of the 2026 diamondback terrapin nesting season was discovered and successfully protected this morning!

After weeks of preparation and monitoring, we're excited to officially kick off the nesting season. Every protected nest represents hope for the next generation of terrapins and a step forward in conserving this remarkable species.

The season is just beginning, and we're still looking for Terrapin Guardians to help monitor nesting habitat and protect nests throughout the summer.

Interested in becoming a Terrapin Guardian? Learn more here: https://orendalandtrust.org/nurture-the-trust/diamond-terrapin-protection-program/

If you enjoy spending time outdoors and want to make a direct impact on local wildlife, we'd love to hear from you - email us at [email protected]

You can also help by following, liking, sharing, and engaging with our posts. Every share helps us reach more people who care about protecting local wildlife and habitats.

Who will find Nest #2? Stay tuned!

The countdown is on...will this be the week we find the first diamondback terrapin nest of the season? 🐢As we eagerly aw...
06/09/2026

The countdown is on...will this be the week we find the first diamondback terrapin nest of the season? 🐢

As we eagerly await the discovery of the season's first nest, we want to extend our heartfelt thanks to our incredible Terrapin Guardians. These dedicated volunteers are spending countless hours in the field monitoring nesting habitat, helping to safeguard nesting females and their eggs, and supporting our mission to protect and sustain future generations of diamondback terrapins. Their commitment plays a vital role in giving every nest the best possible chance to succeed.

While no nests have been documented just yet, conditions look promising and nesting activity could begin at any time. The excitement is building!

Did you know? A female diamondback terrapin can lay multiple clutches of eggs in a single season and often returns to the same nesting areas year after year. That's why our volunteers' careful monitoring throughout the summer is so important.

Interested in becoming a Terrapin Guardian? We're still looking for volunteers to join this rewarding conservation effort. If you enjoy spending time outdoors and want to make a direct impact on local wildlife, we'd love to hear from you - email us at [email protected]

You can also help by following, liking, sharing, and engaging with our posts. Every share helps us reach more people who care about protecting local wildlife and habitats.

Who do you think will spot the first nest of 2026?

https://orendalandtrust.org/nurture-the-trust/diamond-terrapin-protection-program/

Conservation in Action! 🐢Today marked a special milestone as three diamondback terrapin hatchlings that overwintered and...
05/31/2026

Conservation in Action! 🐢

Today marked a special milestone as three diamondback terrapin hatchlings that overwintered and were rehabilitated at the Cape Wildlife Center were released at our “Turtle Garden” sanctuary in West Barnstable.

A heartfelt thank you to the entire Cape Wildlife Center team for the expert care that helped give these young terrapins a strong start before returning to their natural habitat.

This release is a powerful reminder of what conservation partnerships can accomplish and the impact of dedicated wildlife rehabilitation and stewardship efforts.

Terrapin nesting season begins in June, and there are many ways to make a difference. From monitoring nesting areas and protecting nests to supporting education and conservation efforts, community involvement plays a critical role in helping these remarkable turtles thrive.

Visit our website to learn more about becoming a Terrapin Guardian and supporting local wildlife conservation: https://orendalandtrust.org/become-a-terrapin-guardian-join-our-2026-protection-team/

We are so grateful for the seniors from Sturgis Charter Public School who spent Wednesday volunteering to help prepare o...
05/29/2026

We are so grateful for the seniors from Sturgis Charter Public School who spent Wednesday volunteering to help prepare our Turtle Garden sanctuary for diamondback terrapin nesting season! 🐢

From clearing and organizing the space to readying habitat areas for the months ahead, their hard work and dedication made a meaningful impact on this important conservation effort.

With nesting season beginning in June, the Turtle Garden is ready thanks to these incredible students and our community volunteers.

Visit our website to learn more about our mission and volunteer opportunities: https://orendalandtrust.org/become-a-terrapin-guardian-join-our-2026-protection-team/

https://orendalandtrust.org/nurture-the-trust/volunteer-your-talents/

https://orendalandtrust.org/

A huge thank you to everyone who joined our recent Terrapin Guardians trainings - both our returning volunteers and the ...
05/18/2026

A huge thank you to everyone who joined our recent Terrapin Guardians trainings - both our returning volunteers and the many new faces stepping up to help protect Diamondback Terrapins this season!

We’re incredibly grateful for the time, energy, and enthusiasm this community brings each year. From habitat management to nest protection and public education, our Terrapin Guardians play a vital role in helping these incredible turtles thrive.

We’re excited for another meaningful season ahead and look forward to working together to make a difference for local wildlife and habitat conservation.

Interested in getting involved? We’ll be hosting an additional volunteer training in June - date to be announced soon - so stay tuned for more details!

Learn more and volunteer: https://orendalandtrust.org/nurture-the-trust/diamond-terrapin-protection-program/

The countdown to terrapin season is on - and there’s still room to join our 2026 Diamondback Terrapin Protection Team! 🐢...
05/14/2026

The countdown to terrapin season is on - and there’s still room to join our 2026 Diamondback Terrapin Protection Team! 🐢

Our next volunteer training will take place this Saturday, May 16 at 1 PM at our "Turtle Garden" sanctuary in West Barnstable, and we’d love to welcome you to the team.

Each season, our volunteer Terrapin Guardians help monitor nesting activity, protect vulnerable nests, collect important field observations, and support the long-term conservation of diamondback terrapins along Cape Cod. This training will introduce volunteers to the basics of terrapin behavior, sanctuary monitoring, and field protocols in a supportive, hands-on environment.

Whether you’re completely new or returning for another season, this is a great opportunity to get involved directly in local wildlife conservation. No prior experience is required.

We’re still accepting volunteers, so if you’ve been thinking about participating, now is the perfect time to join us for training this Saturday!

Please email [email protected] to sign up for Saturday's session.

Learn more about our program here: https://orendalandtrust.org/nurture-the-trust/diamond-terrapin-protection-program/

We’re looking forward to another meaningful season of protecting terrapins together!

The 2026 Diamondback Terrapin Protection season is almost here - and there’s still time to join the team! 🐢We’re looking...
05/08/2026

The 2026 Diamondback Terrapin Protection season is almost here - and there’s still time to join the team! 🐢

We’re looking forward to welcoming both new and returning volunteers at our upcoming training sessions tomorrow and next Saturday at our Turtle Garden sanctuary in West Barnstable.

If you’ve been thinking about getting involved, this is a wonderful opportunity to learn more about terrapin nesting behavior, monitoring protocols, and how our volunteer "Terrapin Guardians" help protect nests throughout the season. No prior experience is necessary - just a willingness to learn and support local wildlife conservation.

We are still actively welcoming volunteers, so if you haven’t signed up yet, there’s still time to join us!

Learn more and sign up:
https://orendalandtrust.org/nurture-the-trust/diamond-terrapin-protection-program/

Together, we can help make this another impactful season for diamondback terrapin conservation!

A huge thank you to the incredible AmeriCorps Cape Cod crew for their contributions at our Turtle Garden sanctuary in We...
05/04/2026

A huge thank you to the incredible AmeriCorps Cape Cod crew for their contributions at our Turtle Garden sanctuary in West Barnstable last Friday! 🌿🐢

Brendan, Nina, Evie, and Emma joined us for an afternoon of hands-on conservation, and together we made meaningful progress preparing the habitat for the season ahead. From maintaining and expanding key nesting areas to clearing out root-sprouting oaks and reducing dense ground and canopy cover, their efforts directly support the success of our Diamondback Terrapins.

We’re so grateful for your energy, teamwork, and commitment to conservation. Thank you for collaborating with us and being part of this important work!

https://orendalandtrust.org/americorps-cape-cod-lends-a-hand-at-the-turtle-garden-sanctuary/

Address

Barnstable, MA
02668

Opening Hours

Tuesday 9am - 5pm
Wednesday 10am - 5pm
Thursday 10am - 5pm

Telephone

+15083624798

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