ENDANGERED PROTECTED LOGGERHEAD NEST # 15

 This crawl and body pit was found by on a pretty narrow part of the beach, not very wide but all she needed was a little bit of space.  When first looking at the crawl not 2 distinct crawls.  Well, there's a reason for this, once she nested, she crawled right over her incoming crawl, dead smack in the middle.

A Raker stopping some of the walkers just before they got there, telling them he had marked the nest with two boogie boards so no other beach vehicles would accidentally run over the body pit (Nest).

This nest is in an unsafe part of the beach, so this nest will be carefully relocated to another section of the Beach.  

The egg chamber was very deep considering the amount of egg in this egg chamber.  Once the egg chamber is found, we will take this opportunity to count the eggs.  

58 eggs were found in this egg chamber

Carefully looking for the eggs, we dig and dig.

Finally, we reach the eggs.  It's about 18 inches before we reach the top of the egg chamber.

One egg will be used for DNA studies.  The vital information gathered from the eggshell will be entered into a national data base to help in the future survival of the endangered Sea Turtle species.

We have some special guest that have joined and walked with the NMB STP Volunteers.

A cage, poles and rope are put around the relocated nest.  Also, a sign indicating this is a protected endangered Sea Turtle nest. 

Great job to all of the NMB, Briarcliffe and No Mans land walking and helping everyday so these nests can be protected. 

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 Sea Turtle in NMB or Briarcliffe areas, please call

NMB STP HOTLINE

843-213-9074

ANYTIME DAY OR NIGHT