Officials at New York's JFK airport are putting up barriers to keep slow-moving turtles from causing delays on the runways. The barrier is intended to keep the turtles out of the airport and in their natural habitat.
According to the New York Post, diamondback terrapins have found their way to the runways and have been causing problems at the airport. The turtles use the runways and they make their journey to come on shore to nest. It has caused such a problem that pilots have had to use other runways. According to Port Authority spokesman Ron Marsico, airport employees removed about 1,300 turtles by hand in June and July of last year. He hopes the new barrier will encourage them to next somewhere other than the airport.
The Port Authority plans to install 4,000 feet of 8-inch-wide plastic piping around runways 4L.
"We're trying to find a balance between nature and aviation," Marsico told the New York Post. "We don't want to see the turtles get hurt, and this should keep the airport running smoothly."
Dr. Russell Burke, a professor of biology at Hofstra University and a researcher at Jamaica Bay, says the plan may work but he's also concerned that the barrier may put them in greater danger from predators like raccoons.
"If you build a barrier like that, they might just walk along the barrier and nest there," Burke told the Post. "Between 90 and 100 percent of terrapin turtles are killed by predators, so they need to be given a fighting chance" he said.
Burke says the marshes around the runway are the perfect habitat for the turtles and have helped their population. He believes there are as man as 20,000 in the area.
"These turtles are actually a protected species in New York," Burke said, "but their numbers have gone up significantly in the area around the airport over the past five years or so."
He still agrees with the barriers though.
"I think the barriers are a step in the right direction," Burke said. "It should stop flight delays and will hopefully keep the turtles safe."
Don Riepe, a Jamaica Bay guardian for the American Littoral Society also likes the idea of the barrier but he's concerned that the turtles won't have enough room to lay their eggs, even if it keeps them safe.
"Many may give up on trying to cross [the runway], but they are very determined creatures," he Riepe told the Post. "They have to do something. You can't have turtles running all over the runway. It's not good for the airport, and it's certainly not good for the turtles."
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