YORKTOWN — The Island Loop Drive on Jamestown Island at Colonial National Historical Park will be closed to vehicular traffic starting Monday, March 18 to protect turtles during periods of increased activity and conduct a turtle activity study, the National Park Service announced.
The tour road will be closed to motor vehicle traffic, but remain accessible by pedestrians and cyclists. The park service said visitors should exercise caution while on the tour road as hatchlings can be as small as one inch and are hard to detect.
The Island Loop cuts through various habitats and is a barrier for turtles and other reptiles and amphibians as they travel across the island. Past surveys have found that turtle activity, especially hatchlings, increases in the spring and the fall and that the road closure resulted in a measurable decrease in turtle mortality, the park service said.
Additionally, the park said it will debut its Turtle Tent on Sunday, March 17 from 10 a.m. to 3 p.m., where visitors can meet park staff and engage in educational hands-on activities designed to increase awareness about turtles, the dangers they face, and how to best protect them during hatchling season. The park is planning on hosting the Turtle Tent several times throughout the duration of the road closure, it said, and will share more details on scheduling on its social media pages.
The park service said staff will reassess turtle activity in June and release updated information regarding vehicular access to the Island Loop Drive.