North Myrtle Beach Nest 1

May 5, not even a week in the sea turtle nesting season, call came in Windy Hill Volunteers...We have a crawl

Yes, we have eggs

Counting the eggs

DNA Egg

NMB Nest #!

First Nest

While working on the dead stranding, called came in from S.C.U.T.E....report of a live, nesting turtle in front of the Hilton, Lake Shore Drive, Arcadian Shore Beach.

We all thought to early, season just started, might be a Diamond Back Terrapin but we will check out....

Arrive on the beach to late to see the turtle but she left a great scene behind.  Several people walking on the beach saw her and took some great pictures.

Eggs were relocated to a more secure, less busy location.

A very early start to the sea turtle nesting season in Myrtle Beach and North Myrtle Beach. 

A big thanks to all who helped this morning, especially the staff of the Hilton.....all were so concerned about the safety of the turtle and the eggs.

Dead Stranding First Nest

Second day of Official Sea Turtle nesting season and call comes in about a dead stranding, found floating in surf.  This poor guy never stood a chance.....

IGGY

Juvenile loggerhead hooked on Myrtle Beach State Park Pier yesterday. Pulled up onto the pier with a drip or drop net. One hook found in shoulder under carapace. Turtle was transported to SC Sea Turtle Center in Charleston by NMB Sea Turtle Patrol A fiesty turtle but triage revealed her to be in poor body condition. X-rays revealed one reason, two fishing hooks in stomach as well as a large wound in mouth where a fishing hook may have been yanked out. Turtle will undergo surgery  to remove hooks

Aardmark

A 16 pound juvenile green sea turtle was found stranded on the tidal flats off Hogs Inlet at low tide yesterday morning, April 18. A 17 year old came across the turtle as she was exploring the wide beach at low tide. SC DNR was immediately called. Chole was advised to move the turtle out of the hot sun if possible and help would soon arrive. Chole was able to move the turtle to the shade of a tree which was laying on the sand and then she moved the turtle to a shallow tide pool. NMB Sea Turtle Patrol soon arrived and transported the little green to the SC Sea Turtle Care Center in Charleston. The turtle was covered in heavy compacted sand so given an immediate bath, removing 2 pounds of the sand before triage could begin. Turtle is stable, prognosis is guarded.........

Meet Aardvark......from the Lion King

A huge thanks to Chloe for helping this little guy. She told the volunteers that several people just walked right by the turtle. If the turtle had stayed out on the hot sand, in the hot sun, she would have become dehydrated very fast and probably would not survive.

Many thanks for Chloe and her family for helping this turtle.

Nala....first stranding 2019

Early Sunday morning call, last day of March 2019....NMB Dispatch,  "we have reports of a sea turtle buried in the sand."   Few minutes later, another call, this time from NMB Beach Patrol, " I have a sea turtle at the water line, tide is going out, taking turtle with it, appears to be alive."   Officer Stevens was asked to grab and hold the turtle for the Sea Turtle Patrol.  Sure enough, a good size juvenile Green Sea Turtle, covered in sand so looked like it had been buried.

This poor turtle was immediately driven down to the SC Sea Turtle Care Center.  Upon admission to the Center, the turtle weighed 16.9 pounds but body condition could not be evaluated until given a warm bath to remove dense, compacted sand from carapace.  After bath, the turtle weighed 13.4 pounds, losing 3.5 pounds of sand. 

Turtle was thin and lethargic but not in extremely poor condition. The turtle had a very heavy epibota load in addition to the sand. Her bloodwork was fairly good, but she was a little dehydrated so received fluids, vitamins and was started on antibiotics. Radiographs and CT images, some gas showing up in her GI tract. Prognosis appears to be stable

This turtle is named Nala, in keeping with the Lion Kings theme for the year.

more information can be found at:  https://www.scaquarium.org/nala/ 

Hagrid goes home

Hagrid was found in front of Beach Cove, 48th Ave S around 2AM by a couple  visiting from Vermont.  A severe thunderstorm had just passed through, it was cold and windy for an April 16th day.  The couple were looking for shells after the storm and found a big surprise instead.   Hagrid was covered with algae and other epibiota load covering the top of his head, face and front flippers which made his look “hairy.”

Per the SC Sea Turtle Care Center:  "March 15, 2019: Hey ho, way to go, Hagrid! Hagrid was released offshore into the gulf stream with Hagrid on March 14! Unlike our local waters, where the temperature fluctuates throughout the year, the gulf stream maintains around 70°F year round."

Hagrid was released 11 months after being admitted to the Sea Turtle Care Center.