Eastern diamondback terrapins can smell sand. Their instinct is that strong when seeking a place to lay their eggs.

CROSSING GUARD: On Bayview Avenue in Barnegat Light, a sign warns drivers to watch out. In nesting season, slow crossers are in search of sand. (Photo by Jay Mann)

But the females of this species are also such survivors that they can adapt to where helpful humans are trying to redirect them out of harm’s way when they are having trouble finding rarer and rarer safe nesting ground.