INVENTORY ON NMB NEST # 7

THIS NEST WAS FOUND ON SUNDAY JUNE 5TH. 137 EGGS WERE IN THIS NEST; ONE WAS USED FOR DNA STUDIES. THE NEST  INCUBATED FOR 56 DAYS BEFORE EMERGING.

A PHOTO OF THE HOLE LEFT AFTER THE MAJOR EMERGENCE, AT NIGHT ONLY TURTLE SAFE RED LIGHTS ARE USED.

ONE HATCHLING IS FOUND IN THIS NEST AND IS QUICKLY PUT INTO A BUCKET WITH SAND AT THE BOTTOM UNTIL INVENTORY IS COMPLETED.

THE EGGSHELLS AND EGGS ARE CAREFULLY COUNTED, AND DOCUMENTED, THIS 

STATISTICS WILL BE ENTERED INTO A NATIONAL DATABASE.

MANY NMB SPT VOLUNTEERS CAME TO HELP AT THIS INVENTORY,  TALKING WITH TO THE MANY EXCITED AND INTERESTED PEOPLE WHO HAVE COME TO WATCH.

ALL ARE ALLOWED TO GO UP TO THE EGG CAVITY TO LOOK, ONCE INVENTORY HAS BEEN COMPLETED.  MANY ARE AMAZED THAT THIS MOTHER DIGS WITH JUST HER TWO BACK FLIPPERS, AND OFTEN DIG DOWN AS DEEP AS TWO FEET OR MORE.

THE ONE HATCHLING IS RELEASED ON THE BEACH AND CRAWLS TO THE OCEAN ON ITS OWN.

IT IS CRITICAL FOR THE HACHLINGS TO MAKE IT TO THE OCEAN ON THIER OWN. IT IS THOUGHT THAT THEY IMPRINT ON THE SAND THEY WERE BORN ON.  THIS IS THOUGHT TO BE THE PROCESS THAT WILL BRING THE MAJORITY OF THE ADULT SEA TURTLES BACK TO BEACHES THEY WERE BORN ON.

NOW FOR THE EXCITING INVENTORY RESULTS

137 EGGS, ONE WAS USED FOR DNA

96.32% hatch success rate

131 hatched eggs were found

5 whole eggs were found

   one of the 5 whole eggs were piped, (hatchling died before leaving the eggshell)

All Sea Turtles are endangered, they are federally, and state protected. Sticked guidelines, training and permits are required to work with nesting Sea Turtles, nest, eggs, hatchlings and stranded sea turtles.

If you see a nesting Sea Turtle, hatchling, or a stranded Seaa Turtle in NMB or Briarcliffe please call

The NMB STP Hotline

843-213-9074

Any time day or night