On August 24, 2009, several people walking on NMB, including a Waties Island Sea Turtle Monitor came across a hole in the sand with numerous little tracks coming out and heading toward the ocean. It was identified as a Sea Turtle Nest. The Waties Island Sea Turtle Monitors as well as S.C.U.T.E. were notified and the nest was protected with a cage and sign. 3 Days later, the nest was inventoried with the following results: 90 hatched eggs, 28 unhatched or partially hatched eggs and two live turtles. The babies were helped out of the nest and protected as they ran toward the ocean.
Thus, the idea of the NMB Sea Turtle Patrol was hatched. Barbara and Steve Demusz, the leaders of the Waties Island Sea Turtle Monitors, emailed those they thought might be interested. A small group started holding meetings in January. Rob Kayton and Linda Mataya volunteered to Chair the group. The North Myrtle Beach Sea Turtle Patrol has taken off since those early tentative beginnings growing from a handful to over 30 volunteers. We have been spreading the word about the Patrol by participating at the St. Patrick's Day Festival and the McLean Park Earth Day Celebration and will continue to do so during the Mayfest on Main Street in May. Several of our Volunteers are also members of an Educational Outreach Group sponsored by Coastal Carolina University. The NMB Times did a great article on our group and it's objectives. We are now ready to Patrol the 8 miles of NMB everyday!
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