NORTH MYRTLE BEACH NEST # 11 JUNE 16TH

 It's been a very busy season for the NMB STP.  This is the 11th protected nest of the season so far, and one protected nest from Myrtle Beach. The volunteers are out every morning walking 11 miles between NMB and Briarcliffe areas looking for potential crawls and nest, which will be protected.

This morning Adam and Candyce, Chris and Phil have come upon this crawl, you just never know when out walking where the Sea Turtles may have nested. Soon many NMB STP Volunteers have come to help. 

  

MANY VOLUNTEERS HAVE COME TO HELP, ALSO TALKING WITH AND GIVING INFORMATION TO THE CURIOUS AND EXCITED PEOPLE WALKING THIS MORNING.

THE CRAWL COMING IN, A NICE BODY PIT AND THE OUTGOING CRAWL GOING BACK INTO THE OCEAN.

PROBING IS DONE, CHUCK HAS CAREFULLY DUG DOWN INTO THE NEST 

AND YES, WE HAVE A NEST 

 AS THIS IS IN A HIGH TRAFFIC AREA, TOO CLOSE TO THE HIGH TIDE LINE

 THIS NEST IS RELOCATED IN A SAFE LOCATION CLOSER TO THE DUNES.

    135 eggs with one egg used for DNA studies

BARBARA WITH THE DNA EGG, SHOWING AND GIVING 

INFORMATION ABOUT THE ENDANGERED SEA TURTLE SPECIES

ONE EGG IS USED FOR DNA STUDIES, WHICH WILL GIVE VITAL INFORMATION THAT WILL BE USED TO HELP IN THE SURVIVAL OF THE ENDANGERED SEA TURTLE SPECIES. 

 BECAUSE THIS IS THE DNA EGG VOLUNTEERS ARE ABLE TO SHOW THE CURIOUS AND INTERESTED PEOPLE WALKING THE BEACH 

PROTECTED NEST # 11

All sea turtles are endangered, they are Federally, and State protected.  Special training and permits are needed to work with a nesting Sea Turtle, her nest, eggs and with Stranded Sea Turtles

If you see a nesting or stranded Sea Turtle, please call the NMB STP Hotline

843-213-9074

Any time day or night

2 FALSE CRAWLS ON BRIARECLIFF AND APACHE PIER AREAS

 When the NMB STP are out walking at sunrise, every morning is different. Some days there may be a crawl that stands out that they can see from far away down the beach, but other days the high tide has erased all of the crawl that would have been visible and the only the crawl in the soft sand above the high tide line, sometimes wind has made the visibility of the crawl and body pit very hard to see, so very challenging, but the volunteers know what to look for.

But this morning not one but two crawls are found.  Making a very busy but exciting morning as the crawls are from one end of the beach to the other. Both crawls are probed and checked as a small body pit at one and any signs of a body pit of a body pit was raked over and impossible to see.

CINDY AND CHERI ARE CHECKING TO SEE IF ANY EGGS WOULD BE THERE.  MANY BRIARCLIFFE AND APACHE PIER VOLUNTEERS ARE HELPING AT THIS CRAWL AND THE SECOND CRAWL. 

NO NEST WAS FOUND AT EITHER CRAWL. SO MANY THANKS TO EVERY VOLUNTEER 

 HELPING AND WALKING EACH AND EVERY MORNING.  THANK YOU ALL FOR

 MAKING THE DIFFERENCE IN THIS ENDANGERED SEA TURTLE SPECIES.

If in NMB or Briarcliffe areas and you see a nesting Sea Turtle or stranding

Please call the NMB STP Hotline

843-213-9074

Anytime day or night

NORTH MYRTLE BEACH PROTECTED NEST #12 JUNE 19th

NMB STP Volunteers have just made it out for their early morning walks, and first thing they find a nice Sea Turtle Crawl and Body pit.  Calls are made to the NMB STP hotline as well as day Leader Arlene.  Soon more NMB SPT volunteers are there to help.

NMB STP VOLUNTEERS FOLLOW THE CRAWL UP AND FIND THE BODY PIT

The nesting mother had stopped at the base of the dunes but must have wanted a little higher spot. She continued to go around to the other side of the sand fence, so close she had broken some of the fence, this is where she laid her eggs right there in her perfect spot.

THE PERFECT SPOT

BACK INTO THE OCEAN, TO HER HAPPY PLACE.

LINDA HAS PROBED AND HAS FOUND THE NEST

AND YES EGGS ARE FOUND

ONE EGG IS USED FOR DNA STUDIES, JUST THE EGGSHELL WILL BE USED AS IT CARRIES THE MOTHERS DNA.

This testing is critical for studies of  this Endangered Sea Turtle species.  The findings will be shared and used  to help in the survival of the Endangered Sea Turtle species.

DON AND CANAAN ARE PUTTING  UP THE SIGN AT THE PROTECTED NEST.

Young Canaan was walking the beach with his family this morning, excited to learn, as he says the 

Sea Turtle is one of his favorites.  It's always a beautiful day when a nest is found and protected. But also beautiful to see the passion and commitment of this endangered Sea Turtle Species from each of the NMB STP volunteers as they share their passion and knowledge with the public as they walk up to see what is going on.

PROTECTED NEST # 12

MANY THANKS TO ALL THE NMB STP VOLUNTEERS OUT WALKING AND ALL THAT ARE HELPING WITH THIS ENDANGERED SEA TURTLE SPECIES.

All Sea turtles are endangered, they are Federally and State protected, special training and permits are required to work with nesting mothers, nest, eggs and stranded Sea Turtles.

If in NMB or Briarcliffe areas and you see a nesting Sea Turtle or Standing 

Please call the NMB STP hotline

843-213-9074

Anytime day or night

NMB SEA TURTLE NEST #10 JUNE 15 TH

 A very exciting morning for all of  NMB STP Wednesday volunteers  out looking for a potential crawl or body pit. (Sea Turtle Nest)

When NMB STP Volunteers Susan, Kyle and Richard are looking down the beach, they saw tire tracks from where sanitation had turned around, but also to their excitement, they saw a crawl,  right beside the tire tracks, Coming up to the high tide line from the ocean. As they get closer they look up towards the dunes, they walk besides the crawl being careful not to disturb the tracks to find where she had nested, a nice body pit (nest) and the crawl going back to the ocean, to her happy place!  Shortly after more volunteers came to help.

 MANY NMB STP VOLUNTEERS HAVE COME TO HELP, ALL TALKING WITH AND SHARING THIER PASSION AND KNOWLEGE WITH THE CURIOUS BEACH WALKERS OUT WALKING THIS BEATIFUL MORNING

LOOKING AT THE TRACKS, AS THIS WILL GIVE A STARTING POINT TO

 PROBE TO SEE IF EGGS ARE THERE

PROBING IS DONE, CHUCK IS CAREFULLY LOOKING FOR EGGS

AND YES, WE HAVE A NEST!!!!!!

AS THIS IS AN UNSAFE PART OF THE BEACH, MANY LIGHTS AND HIGH TRAFFIC

AREA THE NEST IS RELOCATED TO A SAFER SECTION OF THE BEACH.

126 EGGS

DON, KIM AND APRIL PUTTING A THE CAGE AROUND THE NEST TO

 PROTECT THIS NEST FROM PREDATORS SHARING THE BEACH WITH US.

NEST NUMBER 10

SO MANY THANKS TO EVERY VOLUNTEER.  THANK YOU ALL FOR MAKING THE DIFFERENCE IN THIS ENDANGERED SEA TURTLE SPECIES.

ALL SEA TURTLES ARE ENDANGERED.  THEY ARE FEDERALLY AND STATE PROTECTED,

SPECIAL TRAINING AND PERMITS ARE REQUIRED TO WORK WITH NESTING MOTHERS, NEST, EGGS AND STRANDED SEA TURTLES.

If in NMB or Briarcliffe areas and you see a nesting mother or stranding

Please call the NMB STP Hotline

843-213-9074

Anytime Day or Night

NMB FALSE CRAWL NUMBER 5 JUNE 14th

 Many calls were coming into the NMB STP about 9 PM Monday night, about a Sea Turtle coming up to nest. Everyone calling the NMB STP Hotline were asked to please stay away from her, keep quiet, no lights or flash photography.  Many who had called the hotline and many watching from behind, were respectful and knew the importance of leaving a nesting turtle alone.  Unfortunately, reports came in that a big crowd had gathered, many shining lights on the turtle.  By the time NMB STP Volunteers arrived, the poor scare turtle had already returned to the ocean without nesting.

All Tuesday walkers and day leaders, out walking early the next morning around sunrise, they are hopeful that This Sea Turtle may have returned  later Monday night in another part of the beach to nest.  But no other crawls are found

 THE SCOTTS HAVE COME UPON THIS CRAWL FROM MONDAY NIGHT AND HAVE SENT PICTURES INTO THE NMB STP WHERE LINDA AND CHUCK  CHECKED AND CONFIRMED, THE  FALSE CRAWL FROM MONDAY.

PLEASE REMEMBER ALL SEA TURTLES ARE FEDERALLY AND STATE PROTECTED, IT IS ILEGAL TO TOUCH, HARRASS, SHINE LIGHTS ON, TO INTERFERE IN ANY WAY WITH ANY SEA TURTLE, AND PLEASE NO FLASH PHOTOGRAPHY EVER.

If in NMB or Briarcliffe area and you see a nesting mother or stranding, please call

The NMB STP Hotline

843-213-9074

ANY TIME DAY OR NIGHT

NORTH MYRTLE BEACH PROTECTED SEA TURTLE NEST # 9. JUNE 12th

 Sunday morning NMB STP Volunteers are all out on their early morning walks on the beach all looking for a crawl or nest, all knowing how important it is to find and protect the nest for the future of this endangered Sea Turtle species.

 When NMB STP Volunteers Corrina, and Evan are looking down the beach, they see signs of a crawl. 

 But only one crawl (tracks) going from the water, up the beach and into the dunes.  This is a special

 morning, as she is still there and nesting. They with the other volunteers that have come to help,

 quickly start talking with and educating people about this Endangered Sea Turtle and how important it

 is to let her nest in peace. All beach walkers approaching are all very respectful, all staying a safe

 distance away and letting her nest in peace, as nature intended.

THIS NESTING SEA TURTLE HAD STARTED DIGGING IN OTHER SPOTS BEFORE FINDING THE PERFECT SPOT.  ON THE VERY TIPPY TOP OF THE DUNES, ANY FURTHER AND SHE WOULD HAVE BEEN ON THE OTHER SIDE OF THE DUNES.

ONLY AFTER THE LOGGERHEAD SEA TURTLE HAS NESTED AND IS ON HER WAY BACK TO THE OCEAN, MEASURMENTS ARE TAKEN, A PIT SCAN IS DONE TO LOOK FOR ANY TAGS AND HER OVERALL BODY CONDITION IS CHECKED.

CHUCK HAS PROBED

HE AND LINDA QUICKLY FIND THE EGGS

THE PERFECT ENDING FOR THIS BEAUTIFUL ENDANDERED SEA TURTLE 

RETURNING TO HER HAPPY PLACE, INTO THE OCEAN SHE GOES.

PROTECTED NMB SEA TURTLE NEST NUMBER 9

As this mother has nested in the perfect spot, it is left as she has laid it.  The

  nest is protected with a cage and poles.  One egg is taken for DNA testing

ALL SEA TURTLES ARE ENDANGERED.  SPECIAL TRAINING AND PERMITS ARE REQUIRED TO WORK WITH NESTING SEA TURTLE MOTHERS, NEST, EGGS AND STRANDED SEA TURTLES.

If in NMB or Briarcliffe areas and you see a nesting Sea Turtle or Stranding

please call the NMB STP Hotline

843-213-9074

Anytime day or night

 

NMB SEA TURTLE FALSE CRAWL # 4

 While NMB STP Volunteers are out walking their Saturday early morning walks, all looking for a potential crawl or body pit, they have found false crawl # 4.  The NMB STP Volunteers walk 11 miles of beach between NMB and Briarcliffe areas each and every day.

FALSE CRAWL NUMBER # 4

OFTEN VERY LITTLE SIGNS ARE THERE FOR THE NMB STP 

VOLUNTEERS TO SEE, BUT THEY KNOW JUST WHAT TO LOOK FOR.

  As seen in this picture of the Sea Turtle crawl, the Sea Turtle has come out of the water and has turned around without digging a nest, laying her eggs and has returned back to the ocean.

Sometimes the false crawls are natural occurrences, but sometimes it's because of animal or human interactions. Please if you do see a nesting Sea Turtle, remember no touching, stay way away behind her, no lights or flash photography ever.

SOME FUN FACTS ABOUT THE LOGGERHEAD SEA TURTLE

THE LOGGERHEAD SEA TURTLE IS SOUTH CAROLINAS STATE REPTILE.

THEY ARE NAMED FOR THIER LARGE LOG-LIKE HEADS.

THEY HAVE POWERFUL JAWS THAT MAKE IT POSSIBLE TO CRUSH CRABS AND MOLLUSK.

THEY ALSO LOVE JELLYFISH.

ADULT LOGGERHEADS CAN WEIGH 250-300 LBS AND UP.

ADULTS CAN BE UP TO 3 TO 4 FEET IN LENGTH

A NESTING LOGGERHEAD SEA TURTLE MAY NEST MULTIPLE TIMES DURING THE NESTING SEASON, BUT MAY SKIP A YEAR OR TWO, SOMETIMES MORE BEFORE NESTING AGAIN.

 MANY THANKS TO EACH AND EVERY NMB STP VOLUNTEER FOR ALL MAKING THE

 DIFFERENCE IN THE BEAUTIFUL SEA TURTLE SPECIES.

 

If in NMB or Briarcliffe areas and you see a nesting, or stranded Sea Turtle

Please call the NMB STP Hotline

843-213-9074

Any time day or night