Walking. Touched by a Terrapin.

Posted on by Live & Learn

Here we go. 1,153 consecutive (almost) days on this daybreak walk at Cove Island Park. Like in a row.

I’m off.

71° F. Humidity? One billion % and climbing.

Mimi, in her FB comment: A brooding kind of beauty —  and even the birds are holding court in silence.”

And they were silent. A Great Blue Heron. A pair of egrets. A Yellow-Crowned Night Heron.  Gulls, and their wings.

Just another morning at Cove Island Park.

I walk.

But, the Mind isn’t here this morning. Yes, it’s certainly here at Cove Island Park, but meaning not Here, and Now.

It drifts back 10 days or so. I’m at the end of my walk and there under the bench sits a Diamondback Terrapin turtle. No, I didn’t have a clue it was a Diamond Terrapin Turtle, Google Lens did though: “The Northern diamondback terrapin is the only species of turtle in North America, including Connecticut, that spends its life in brackish water…and they are most abundant in tidal estuaries west of the Connecticut River.”

Like who knew? Most abundant in tidal estuaries in Connecticut. Brackish water. This sticks.

I’m staring at this creature, at the intricate designs of its shell, and wonder what he’s doing so far away from brackish water.  “Injured? Lost? Resting? Kid dragged you from the water, and had a little fun with you.” Not sure why that last disturbing thought crossed my mind, no, please, not that.

I’m ready to head home but couldn’t walk away from him, I couldn’t leave him on the dry dirt under the bench so far from brackish water.

I set my camera down, and disentangled myself from my backpack, and while doing so wondered if I would be violating any sort of Turtle Code. Don’t pick up baby bird, or mamma will abandon him. I look at him, and conclude that he ain’t no baby, not that I’m any sort of expert on Diamondback Terrapins.

Getting past that, I wondered, if I lifted him, would he come flying out of his shell like a jack-in-a-box, snap at my wrist, lock on to me, forcing me to try to free myself by slamming this violent creature in his shell against the bench, with his teeth ripping apart my skin with each swing of my arm. Stamford Post: “Man, and Terrapin, found dead under bench, both having bled out.”

Getting past all that and concluding that in a cage match, I could probably take him at the cost of an arm, I gently lift him by his shell, impressed that he’s a good deal heavier than I thought, and we walk together peacefully along the length of the break wall, where I gently place him on some small stones, near some brackish water and sea grass.

It was then, for the first time, he slowly eased his head out of his shell, and his eyes, those dark eyes, looking way up to mine: “Thanks for putting me down near this brackish water.”

Annie Dillard in For the Time Being: “In any instant the sacred may wipe you with its finger. In any instant the bush may flare, your feet may rise, or you may see a bunch of souls in trees.”

…any instant the sacred may wipe you with its finger.

I come back to Today, Now, I’m walking back to the car. I can feel him, the thin film from his shell on my finger tips, and his substance, something so small, yet weighty, sacred. I rub my index finger on my thumb, and back. He’s come back to me. Some Terrapin Mother gave birth to this hard shell creature, and I touched him.

And, he touched me.

Notes:

  • DK Photo up top, Sunday, July 2, 2023 @ 4:50 am. More photos from this morning’s walk here.
  • DK Photo of Diamondback Terrapin turtle, June 21, 2023.

37 thoughts on “Walking. Touched by a Terrapin.”

  8. I’m struck by how many sacred moments have been felt and seen by your 1,000+ walk by the cove. If I’m not mistaken, there were gorgeous vistas to be seen, but once the glimpses of flora and fauna made their appearance known to you, it expanded your perspective and ours. Love this

  9. WMS. Really seems like the scales have fallen from your eyes, so to speak. When we take the time to notice, the seemingly pedestrian reveals its magic. ☺️

  11. A special moment of connection. Thank you for sharing David. It’s amazing how these moments appear when we are present and can respond in line with the knowing of nature.

  12. We all need to be taken back to our brackish water.
    This is so beautiful. Thank you.

  15. Annie Dillard! That is such a great quote to go with such an amazing experience. Yeah, I’m the girl that said something about turtles. So glad that you’ve had this opportunity. Visit me in the south sometime. I can take you to some amazing brackish water where the creatures hang out.

  17. This leaves me breathless, the wonder of nature, the considerate, loving ‘bringing her back to the fold’, the sheer beauty of it all. You have come a long way, and in a very good way!

  18. I am glad you had the experience! It’s interesting what thoughts went through your mind. I would say I’m speaking for Chris and me both, I don’t think either of us would give it a second thought. No worst case scenarios. I have come face-to-face with the mountain lions, bears, fisher cats, moose, loons while I was swimming in the water, turtles, likely countless other creatures. I have never been hurt by any of them, perhaps because I have no expectation that this would ever happen. So good on you, David . Maybe next time you won’t give it a second thought! 😊💜

  19. We saw a Great Blue Heron., yesterday as we were driving…thought of you. We wish we would of been able to stop -just not possible do the high speed traffic.

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