Endangered protected Loggerhead Nest

A call coming into the Hotline, a turtle coming to shore.  The NMB STP Volunteer arrive just in time. When the NMB STP Volunteers arrive, the original caller had to leave, they were the one making sure everyone knew no lights, stay back.  Soon many people arrived as this news seams to travel fast.  All beachgoers are very respectful all staying back and no lights once asked to keep them off.

The nest is kept safe with poles and rope and a sign.   this will ensure it is not raked over or run over accidentally before we arrive at daylight to protect this nest.

This is in the middle of a very busy beach and bright lights so it will be located to a safer location.  If this nest was left in situ (left as it was laid,) the bright lights behind this nest would attract them towards the buildings and would be devastating to the Hatchlings.  Hatchlings have a limited amount of energy to start their journey.  If they use this energy up unnecessarily going the wrong way their chances will be diminished.  

127 beautiful eggs are relocated to a safer part of the beach.

 Great job to all of the NMB STP Volunteers out walking each morning looking for tracks so the Endangered Sea Turtle eggs can be protected.  A cage and poles with ropes will help keep them safe until it is their time to hatch and head to the Ocean to begin their journey.  One never knows if one or more may be one of the ones to help their species survive into the future generations.

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 nesting Sea Turtle, Hatchling or stranded Sea Turtle in NMB or Briarcliffe areas please call immediately

NMB STP HOTLINE

843-213-9074

ANYTIME DAY OR NIGHT.

Endangered Sea Turtle protected nest

 A call coming into the hotline about a Sea Turtle that had nested and gone back into the water.  They had put cones around the body pit.  They were really careful not to disturb the body pit; the cones were far enough away as not to disturb the body pit.  

Soon NMB STP Volunteers come to help, as this Sea Turtle nest is too close to the water line, many lights from high rises, so it will be relocated.

The nest cavity is found.  The Volunteers will count the number of eggs.  107 eggs are relocated to a safer part of the beach.

 These two eggs are fused together. Sometimes we will get an occasional mis shaped or oblong egg.

All in days walk. The NMB STP Volunteers are excited to be able to protect this endangered Sea Turtle Nest.  They all know the importance and the effect they have on helping to make sure the Endangered Sea Turtle species have the best chances to survive.

A cage with poles and ropes are put around this nest, with a sign indicating this is a protected Endangered Sea Turtle Nest.

Great job to the NMB STP Volunteers, all making the difference in saving the endangered Sea Turtle Species.

All Sea Turtles are endangered; they are federally protected. Special guideline's, training and permits are required to work with nesting Sea Turtles, Nest, Hatchlings and Stranded Sea Turtles.

If you encounter a nesting Sea Turtle, Hatchling or a stranded Sea Turtle in NMB or Briarcliffe areas please call immediately

NMB STP HOTLINE

843-213-9074

ANYTIME DAY OR NIGHT

Protected Loggerhead nest

A call coming into the hotline, of a Sea Turtle Coming to shore.  The NMB STP Volunteers are soon there to ensure all is quiet, no lights and all a respectful distance away.  Once the Sea Turtle has nested and headed back into the water, measurements were taken, and the overall body condition to ensure no fishing line or other entanglements are present.  Sea Turtles will come to shore only to nest or in need of help.  This would likely be the only or one of a few opportunities to remove any entanglement materials.  All was great, once she reached the water picked up her head, took a deep breath and atlas was back in her safe environment.  She has done her part in helping the survival of the Endangered Sea Turtle Species. 

 Big, beautiful tracks (crawl). Many beach walkers have stopped to see and learn more about the endangered Sea Turtle.  The NMB STP Volunteers are excited to share information about the endangered Sea Turtle species, a highlight of many who will now know ways they can help in their everyday lives to help in Sea Turtle Conservation.

Great job to all of the NMB STP out walking everyday rain or shine (unless lightening or unsafe conditions.)

The family that did everything right. they had seen this Sea Turtle come to shore, made the call to the NMB STP Hotline, and stayed until the permitted Volunteers arrived. So, they could make sure she could nest in peace with no lights, or anyone disturbing her. All came out the next morning to learn more about the Sea Turtle they helped nest in peace. Thank you for making the difference.

 

Because this was in an unsafe area, many lights and heavy traffic this nest is carefully relocated to an undisclosed area.

126 eggs relocated and 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 Nesting Sea Turtle, Hatchling or stranded Sea Turtle in NMB or Briarcliffe areas please call:

NMB STP HOTLINE

843-213-9074

ANYTIME DAY OR NIGHT

In Situ protected loggerhead nest

 What a great spot this endangered Loggerhead Sea Turtle laid her Nest.  The perfect spot, in a nice quiet place close to the Dunes

NMB STP Volunteers are excitedly waiting to see if the egg chamber is found. It's very promising.  Many people walking on the beach and the NMB STP Volunteers are excitedly sharing their passion and knowledge amongst themselves and all that have come to see what is going on.  Many will go home with a new appreciation of the endangered Sea Turtle Species.  Getting out the word on how to help the Endangered Sea Turtle Species one person at a time.  This may even start a lifelong passion in their futures; the stars are the limits.

The egg chamber is found, this was laid in the perfect spot, up close to the dunes with no bright lights.

one egg is used for DNA Research. This will be entered into a national database and used by many in learning more about the Endangered Sea Turtle species.  Conservationist will use this data also to help in the many unknown to help the Sea Turtle survive into future generations.

Only the outer shell of one egg from every nest will be used for DNA Studies.  This will identify this particular Mother.  Her offspring can also be detected by the DNA studies, along with how often and how many clutches she will lay in a nesting season.

Great job to all of the NMB STP Volunteers out walking every day.  They are the reason we are able to 

protect the Endangered Sea Turtle nest.

All Sea Turtles are endangered; they are federally and state protected.  Special training, guidelines and permits are required to work with Nesting Sea Turtles, Nest, Hatchlings and stranded Sea Turtles.

If you encounter a nesting Sea Turtle, Hatchling or stranded Sea Turtle in NMB or Briarcliffe areas please call

NMB STP HOTLINE

843-213-9074

ANYTIME DAY OR NIGHT

Endangered Loggerhead protected Sea Turtle Nest

 A beautiful long Crawl up to the dunes, a possible body pit, and a beautiful long crawl back to the Ocean.

Studying the body pit and looking at signs to find the best location to locate the body pit, while other NMB STP are looking at this beautiful crawl, determining the incoming and outgoing crawl.

Waiting anxiously and with excitement to see if an egg chamber is found.

The egg chamber is located.  Although this nest was close to the dunes, it is right in front of a walkover. So, this nest will be relocated to a safer part of the beach.  Because the nest is relocated eggs were counted. An incredible 151 eggs were found in this nest

One egg is used for DNA Testing.  This information will be entered in a national database. The information gathered from this egg will be used by many in learning more about this elusive Sea Turtle species and conservation efforts to help in the survival of the Sea Turtle species

A cage with poles and ropes are put up to protect this nest to help keep it safe from all that share the beach with us. A sign indicating this is a protected endangered Sea Turtle Nest is put up.

Great job to all that are out walking every morning looking for signs of a Sea Turtle, so the nest can be protected.  They are all making the difference in helping the endangered Sea Turtle Species survive.

All Sea Turtles are endangered, special guidelines, training and permits are required to work with Nesting Sea Turtles, Hatchlings and stranded Sea Turtles.

If you encounter a nesting Sea Turtle, Hatchling or Stranded Sea Turtle in NMB or Briarcliffe areas please call 

NMB STP HOTLINE

843-213-9074

ANYTIME DAY OR NIGHT

1st LOGGERHEAD ENDANGERED SEA TURTLE NEST PROTECTED

 A call coming into the NMB STP Hotline about a Sea Turtle Coming to shore.  The caller is great asking all people to back away from this endangered loggerhead Sea Turtle and no lights.  NMB STP Volunteers are soon there to ensure all is quiet and dark. She was able to nest in peace and quiet.

Once Sea Turtles enter the Ocean as Baby Hatchlings, they spend their entire life in the Ocean.  The only time a Sea Turtle will come to shore is to nest or stranded and in need of help.

When a Sea Turtle comes to shore to nest, they are leaving the environment they are meant to be in.  Dragging their heavy body up on shore up as far as the dunes or where they feel is a good place to lay her eggs.  She then will dig a hole much in a shape of a lightbulb only about 6 inches in diameter at the top, then wider at the bottom.  This is done with just her back flippers, a task in itself. She then will begin laying her eggs, this again will take quite a while and allot of energy.  After this she will cover her eggs, again another feat in itself.  she will do her best to hide her precious egg chamber by throwing sand with just her flippers. And now it's time for her to head back to the Ocean, dragging her large body with her flippers.  She's exhausted, out of her environment, but doing what it takes to ensure she is doing her part to help her species survive. This same mother will usually lay multiple nests in the season she is nesting.  So please, if you encounter a Nesting Sea Turtle Stay away, never be in front of her and never shine a light on her, this can spook her and she may leave the beach returning to the Ocean without nesting.

All is quiet and Dark, on her way back to the Ocean the Permitted Sea Turtle volunteers will Measure this Sea Turtle, do a pit tag scan on her and check her overall health and look for any potential entanglement's she may have.  

The body pit is roped off to protect this nest from anyone walking through it and also, to make sure it is not run over until the morning.

The tracks (Crawl) of this beautiful Endangered Loggerhead Sea Turtle

The body Pit (Nest)

The V in the crawl will tell the Volunteers what way she was coming or going.

An exciting moment, as the Eggs are found, it is a Nest. (This is done only by trained and permitted STP Volunteers)

133 eggs are relocated

This nest was located in a busy part of the beach with many bright lights from Highrise's. The lights would disorient the Hatchlings once ready to head to the Ocean.  For these reasons the Eggs will be relocated to a safer part of the beach.

All are excited to know that their hard dedication and commitment have resulted in being able to help in the survival of the endangered Sea Turtle Species.  The NMB STP Volunteer walk one or more mornings all summer long From May 1st until the middle of August.  They walk rain or shine (unless lightning or dangerous to be on the beach.)  While they get many beautiful mornings, they also end up cold and drenched.  Because of all of the NMP STP Volunteers out walking every morning these nests are able to be found and protected.  So many thanks to all of the NMB STP Volunteers out walking every morning.

One egg out of every nest will be used for DNA research.  As Sea turtles live their entire life in the Ocean this information will be invaluable.  The DNA in this eggshell the specific Mothers.  They can track how often the Sea Turtle Nest, how many times she nested in a particular season. how many years in-between nesting. These are just a few, as this data will be entered into a national data based and used for research and conservation purposes to help in the survival of the Endangered Sea Turtle Species.

Poles, rope and a sign indicating this is a protected endangered Sea Turtle nest.

Great job NMB STP Volunteers

All Sea Turtles are endangered; they are federally and state protected.  Special Training, guidelines and permits are required to work with Nest Sea Turtles, Nest, Hatchling and stranded Sea Turtles.

If you encounter a Nesting Sea Turtle, Hatchling or stranded Sea Turtle in NMB or Briarcliffe areas please call immediately.

NMBSTP HOTLINE

843-213-9074

ANY TIME DAY OR NIGHT