Endocrine indicators of a stress response in nesting diamondback terrapins to shoreline barriers in Barnegat Bay, NJ.

•We quantified the effects of shoreline barriers on an estuarine turtle’s adrenocortical response.•Corticosterone and testosterone were quantified in relation to nesting at blocked or open beaches.•Terrapins, while capable of a stress response, did not elicit this reaction to nesting barriers.•This study provides a quantitative approach to guiding management of human stressors to wildlife.