NMB PROTECTED ENDANGERED LOGGERHEAD NEST # 11

 When we talk about the great times of walking the beaches and the beautiful sunrises we often encounter, this is not always the case.  With tropical Storm Chantal coming in strong, we were very lucky to have this nest to protect.  Thankfully a call came into the hotline in the evening, of a Sea Turtle nesting on the beach.

When the NMB STP Volunteers arrive, this Sea Turtle was just finishing up covering up her nest.  The winds were picking up and erasing the crawl as we stood there.  We took very quick measurements, 41 inches from Notch to the tip of her Carapace (shell). Putting poles and a rope around of the body pit as we may not have much that will be visible by morning.

  As morning approaches, the weather is very bad and still feeling the effects of the storm named Chantal.  The NMB STP Volunteers wait a little while for the weather and wind to calm down.  Anticipation as to what we would find.  Yes, the poles are still standing. 

As we had expected very little left of the body pit, to anyone walking the beaches in the morning would not have recognized this little bit as a body pit.  All of the incoming crawl and outgoing crawl were completely gone.  If the beachgoers would not have call the NMB STP Hotline, this nest would not have been found and protected. 

The egg Chamber is found.

This nest will be relocated to a safer part of the Beach with less traffic and lights.

134 eggs and 1 small spacer egg is found in this egg Cavity

1 Small spacer egg is found in this egg cavity.  This is smaller than a regular egg and is considered non- viable.  

This is a comparison next to a set of keys to show the size of the Spacer eggs.

One egg from every nest is used for DNA Research.  This will give answers to many of the unknowns.  The Sea Turtles whole life is at Sea once they enter the Oceans after hatching.  The only time they will come to shore is to nest or if they are sick and strand on land.  

This relocated nest is protected with a cage, poles and a sign indicating that this is a protected Endangered Sea Turtle Nest.

Protected Endangered Nest Number 11

All Sea Turtles are endangered, they are federally, and state protected.  Special guidelines, training and permits are required to work with Nesting Sea Turtles, Nest, Hatchlings and stranded Sea Turtles.

If you encounter a nesting or stranded Sea Turtle in NMB or Briarcliffe areas, please call

THE NMB STP HOTLINE

843-213-9074

ANYTIME DAY OR NIGHT

Sea Turtle talks at the NMB HISTORICAL MUSEUM

 TURTLE TALKS CONTINUE

Turtle talks and entry to the NMB Historical Museum is Free

The NMB STP Volunteer Outreach Committee will be doing Turtle talks every Wednesday from 2-3 pm at the NMB Historical Museum.

This is for all ages young and old.

Want to learn more about the Endangered Sea Turtles that Nest right here on the Beaches of South Carolina.

Something fun and interesting to do.  This is for all ages, so bring your whole Family.

PROTECTED ENDANGERED SEA TUTLE NEST #10

 NMB STP Volunteers are excited this morning as they have found the faint signs of a crawl, as they walk further fallowing the crawl(tracks) they see a distinctive body pit (nest).  Raking had been done already with most of the crawl raked over with just a small portion of crawl towards the water line. The NMB STP Volunteers preserve what can be seen by making sure no one walks through the tracks or body pit as the sand is also very soft and not giving many distinct markings.  Great job to the NMB STP Volunteers. 

A small portion of tracks, very faint but the NMB STP Volunteers know just what they are looking for.  To the untrained eye, many would just think people tracks. Great job NMB STP Volunteers

With just enough signs left we will start to probe for eggs.  The egg chamber is easily found.  but because this is in a high traffic area with many lights that would possibly turn the baby Hatchling in the wrong direction, this nest will be relocated to a safer part of the beach.

130 eggs are found in the egg chamber

the NMB STP Volunteers are busy putting a cage around the relocated nest.  Poles, rope and a sign indicating that this is a protected endangered Sea Turtle nest are also put up. The NMB STP Volunteers will share their knowledge and passion as bystanders come to see what is happening.

Great Job to all the NMB STP Volunteers out walking at sunrise this morning and every morning. 

11 miles of Beach are covered by Briarcliffe, No Mans land and NMB STP Volunteers on foot walking rain or shine. (unless the weather is not safe to be on the beach)

All Sea Turtles are endangered, they are federally, and state protected.  Special guidelines, training and permits are required to work with Nesting Sea Turtles, Nest, Hatchlings and stranded Sea Turtles.

If you encounter a Nesting Sea Turtle, Hatchling or stranded Sea Turtle in NMB or Briarcliffe areas please call

NMB STP HOTLINE

843-213-9074

ANYTIME DAY OR NIGHT

Juvenile Green Sea Turtle on Apache Pier Stranding

 While all Sea Turtles are federally and state protected, sometimes a Sea Turtle may accidentally get caught on hook and line by a fisherman fishing on shore or pier.  We are so thankful to Apache Pier as they know exactly what to do to keep the turtles safe with the least amount of stress to them.  This careful handling will in turn give them a much better chance of recovery and survival.

There are a few things that should be done in order to safely bring this endangered Sea Turtle in shore or on the pier that will help in its recovery and survival. 

 If on the Pier please do not bring the Sea Turtle up on the pier by reeling in from the water to the pier.  This could damage critical organs or even cause its death.  Apache Pier and Cherry Grove Pier have special drop nets designed specially to bring the Sea Turtle up to the pier safely. 

 Please make sure to not release or try to remove the hook. Trained and permitted STP Volunteers will work with DNR and the Sea Turtle Care Center in Charleston to access if this Sea Turtle will need to be transported to the Sea Turtle Care Center or released

If you are fishing from shore, please real them in very slowly as not to damage any internal organs.  Please do not try to take the hook out yourself.  Trained and permitted STP Volunteers will work with DNR and the Sea Turtle Care Center to decide what should be done next.

The overall body condition, including any injuries are accessed, along with Measurements taken by permitted Volunteers who have had special training. Pictures are also taken so DNR and the Sea Turtle Care Center in Charleston will know ahead of time what immediate care will be needed the minute he/she arrives. All of these states will be entered into a national data base to help in the conservation to help save these endangered Sea Turtle Species.

Now ready for transport by the NMB STP Permitted Volunteer to the Sea Turtle care center.  The fishing line is secured to the carapace (shell) to keep it from accidentally being pulled by the flippers and will give the Sea Turtle Care Center in Charleston something to work with when they remove the hook. It is important to have enough line, so the Sea Turtle Care Center has something to work with.

Great job Apache Pier and the fisherman who accidentally hooked this, Sea Turtle.   By using the Specially designed Sea Turtle drop net.  They have given this Sea Turtle the best chance of recovery.

We do not know what the name is yet, but when we get the name and prognoses of this endangered Sea turtle is released, we will update this blog.

All Sea Turtles are Endangered, they are federally, and state protected.  Special guidelines, training and permits are required to work with nesting Sea Turtles, Nest and Stranded or caught accidentally by hook in line.

If you encounter a Nesting Sea Turtle or stranded Sea Turtle in NMB or Briarcliffe areas or hook a Sea Turtle, please call 

NMB STP HOTLINE

843-213-9074

ANYTIME DAY OR NIGHT

NMB PROTECED ENDANGERED LOGGERHEAD NEST 9

 A call coming into the hotline in the very early hours of the morning.  Still to dark to tell if a false crawl or nest.  A waiting game as daylight will give more clarity. 

 Oh yes as daylight comes upon Linda, she is happy to see a nest cavity.  But it won't be easy, this mother was very good as disguising her nest.  This is a very long body pit (nest) and will take two to probe to find eggs in a timely manner. 

What a special find as the walkers first come up the crawl (tracks) and body pit.

A beautiful body pit (nest) but may take some time to find, as her body pit is very long.

Many people out walking on the beach are delighted as the NMB STP explains to all who want to know what is going on.  They will go home with a new revelation on how everyone can do a part in saving the Sea Turtle species.  

One egg from every nest will be used for DNA Studies.   Information that will be gathered from the outer eggshell will carry information specific to this nesting mother.  Just some of the information gathered will include information that will give insight as to how many times she has nested, what beaches she nested on and how many nests she laid in a nesting year.  Allot of times these mothers will take a year or two sometimes more years off to recover before having another laying year.  The critical information gathered will be entered into a national data base to help in the conservation and future of saving the endangered Sea Turtle Species.

This nest was in the middle of a very busy beach, with many lights so this nest is relocated to a safer part of the beach. The eggs are carefully counted.  There were 147 eggs in this nest. A cage is put together and will protect the eggs.

Poles and ropes are put around the Nest with a sign indicating this is a protected endangered Sea Turtle Nest.

Great job to all that walked this morning and every morning.  Thier hard work is making the difference in helping to saving the endangered Sea Turtle Species.

All Sea Turtles are federally, and state protected.  Special guidelines, training and permits are required to work with Nesting Sea Turtles, Nest, Hatchlings and Stranded Sea Turtles

If you encounter a nesting Sea Turtle, Hatching or Stranded Sea Turtle or accidentally catch a Sea Turtle while fishing in NMB or Briarcliffe areas please call 

NMB STP HOTLINE

843-213-9074

Any time day or night

NMB PROTECTED NEST # 8

 Very Fortunate ending to what could have been a very devastating outcome.  A call coming into the hotline in the early evening hours. Still light enough that everyone could see this beautiful, endangered Sea Turtle come out of the water.  What should have been a Nesting event for this Turtle, turned into her starting to dig her egg chamber but abandoning it.   While Many were devasted and tried to get people to leave her alone as they were being respectful of this endangered Loggerhead Sea Turtle.  A few thinking it was a frenzy to take selfies.  One person placed a football by her head, while another laid in front of her to get that selfie.  This is not only illegal, but heavy fines up to jail time, as all Sea Turtles are protected under the endangered Sea Turtles Act.  

Sadly, if you look carefully, you can see where this endangered Sea Turtle had started to dig an egg chamber and left, before nesting, after being harassed by a select few.

So now onto the Great News. it is believed that this same Sea Turtle came up later in the evening. The NMB STP Hotline was once again called.  The NMB STP Permitted Volunteers made sure all is kept dark, no one near, all quiet.  This Sea Turtle was able to finish her nesting.  

But again, while it is extremely fortunate that she came back up and nested instead of having to depositing the eggs in the ocean, she was extremely tired, and exhausted, having a hard time re-entering the Ocean. 

Imagine being 250 to 350 pounds.  She has to leave her sanctuary of the ocean to do her part in keeping the endangered Sea Turtle species alive. Now she crawls out on the hard sand dragging her heavy body with just her flippers.  She then digs' a hole about 18 to 24 inches deep, sometimes deeper with just her back two flippers.  She then continues to lay her eggs, burry them back up and throws sand with her flippers to make the nest harder to find.  A long process for her, she will do this up to several times during a nesting year.  So, let's not make it harder for her, please respect her space and privacy, as she is already out of her natural environment and safety net. 

Probing is done and yes, thankfully she nested, and the egg chamber is found.  this nest is in a very busy part of the beach with many lights.  Following the protocol of the permits to work with the Endangered Sea Turtle Species this nest is relocated to a safer part of the beach.

122 eggs were in this nest.

Great job to all walking this morning and every morning, they are making the difference in helping to save the endangered Sea Turtle Species.

All Sea Turtles are endangered, they are federally, and state protected.  Special guidelines, training and permits are required to work with Nesting Sea Turtles, Nest, Hatchlings and stranded Sea Turtles.

If you see a Nesting Sea Turtle or stranded Sea Turtle in NMB or Briarcliffe areas, please call

NMB STP HOTLINE

843-213-9074

ANYTIME DAY OR NIGHT.

NMB Protected Nest #7

 A beautiful morning, NMB STP Volunteers begin their walk and what do they find but a beautiful crawl with a nice body pit.

Reading the signs will help locate the best guess as to where the egg chamber may be.

This nest was in the middle of a very busy beach with Many lights in the background.  These bright lights may turn the baby Hatchlings towards the wrong direction.  So, this nest will be relocated to a safer part of the beach. Since this nest was relocated, we are able to carefully count the eggs.  128 eggs were in this Nest.

The Volunteers are busy putting the cage together that will protect this relocated nest.

 

Many people have come to see what is going on.  As the NMB STP Volunteers are at their happiest when sharing information on what they are doing and the importance this plays in the future survival of the endangered Sea Turtle.

One egg will be used from every nest for DNA Research.  This information will give allot of critical information about the Endangered Sea Turtles.  This information will be shared in a national data base to use in conservation efforts to help in the Survival of their species.

Great job all who walked this morning and all NMB STP Volunteers walking every week to locate the nest.  They are the reason these nests can be protected.

All Sea Turtles are endangered, they are federally, and state protected.  Special training, guidelines and permits are required to work with Nesting Sea Turtles, Nest, Hatchlings and stranded Sea Turtles.

If you encounter a Nesting Sea Turtle or stranding in NMB or Briarcliffe areas, please call

NMB STP HOTLINE

843-213-9074

ANYTIME DAY OR NIGHT