Juvenile Kemps Ridley Stranding

 A kemps Ridley stranding on Cherry grove pier.  

Kemps Ridley Sea Turtles are the smallest and most endangered Sea Turtle Species.  This is a juvenile. 

This picture was graciously given to us by a fisherman. This little kemps was released back into the water by a person that did not know that they should always call The NMB STP first and wait for the trained and permitted Sea Turtle Patrol Volunteers to arrive. But they did great in bringing the Sea Turtle up with the drop net.  if this ever happens again they will know what to do next time.  You will not ever be in trouble for accidentally Hooking a Sea Turtle.  It's all about getting the word out one person at a time.

But what you do next could make all the difference in the Sea Turtle Standing surviving. 

Please if on a pier use a drop net to gently bring the Sea Turtle up on the pier. (Cherry Grove Pier and Apache Pier both have Sea Turtle drop nets for this purpose.)  Never reel a Sea Turtle up on the pier by the hook, this could cause allot of internal damage and may even cause its death. 

Call your local Sea Turtle Patrol:  In NMB or Briarcliffe areas please call NMB STP 843-213-9074 Hotline.  Or call SCDNR and they will let the permitted volunteers closest to the location you are now.

When the Permitted STP Volunteers arrive, they will work with SCDNR to determine if the Sea Turtle will be released or if it needs a little more help. 

Never pull the line out of the turtle's mouth, it could cause allot of internal damage.  Leave at least 18 of line to work with.

  The trained and permitted volunteers will work with the SCDNR to make sure the Sea turtle is in good health and will determine if the Sea Turtle should be released or in need of help and should be brought to the SC Sea Turtle Hospital in Charleston, by permitted Volunteers

If in NMB or Briarcliffe areas and you encounter a Nesting Sea Turtle or stranded or accidentally hooked on a fishing line, please call 

NMB STP HOTLINE

843-213-9074

ANYTIME DAY OR NIGHT

HAPPY MOTHERS DAY FROM THE NMB STP

 

Moving into 2026

 HAPPY NEW YEAR FROM THE NMB STP

LOOKING FORWARD TO ANOTHER GREAT YEAR

INVENTORY OF PROTECTED ENDANGERED LOGGERHEAD SEA TURTLE NEST #14

 

From day 1 of protecting endangered Loggerhead nest #14

To the evening of the Inventory

Excited NMB STP Volunteers are here to see the great results of all of their hard work.  They get to meet other fellow Volunteers and many new people that are here wanting to learn more about the endangered Sea Turtle Species.

                                            

A little bit about this nest is shared with all that have come. All will get to see the egg chamber and empty eggshells that the Hatchlings made their way out of along with any eggs that were not viable.

                                                                   

The great results of nest # 14

133 eggs were laid in this nest, 1 used for DNA. 132 relocated eggs

94% Hatch rate of relocated eggs

Out of the 132 relocated eggs

              124 Hatched eggshells

6 whole eggs

2 pipped eggs

             1 deceased Hatchling

      0 live Hatchlings

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

If you encounter a Sea Turtle in NMB or Briarcliffe please call

NMB STP HOTLINE

843-213-9074

ANYTIME DAY OR 

Inventory of protected endangered Loggerhead Nest #13

 From day one of protected Loggerhead nest #13

To the emergence day and now the Inventory.  This is done after the specified number of days after the major emergence.  These few days will give any Hatchlings that need a little more time to mature and make it out of the nest on its own

Many Volunteers and many guest, family friend's and people out walking the beach have come to see this inventory.  We have a treat tonight as we have many kids here to see and learn about this endangered Sea Turtle species.  Many have great questions and are so curious. For many, the interactions that they have with the NMB STP Volunteers will have a lasting respect and effect on how they see the world of the endangered Sea Turtle species.

A little information about this nest is shared with all that have come.  Because this nest was relocated, the number of eggs that have been incubating in the egg chamber is shared at this time also.  One hatchling is found in this nest that had not been able to make it out on its own.  All are able to look at the Loggerhead Hatchling while the inventory is completed.  

                                             

The unviable egg and hatched eggshells.  All are welcome to see that the eggs and hatched eggshells look like. 

The inventory is done; the one Hatchling is released on the sand.  He/she will make its way to the Ocean to start its journey into the deep blue.  The data collected will be entered into a national data base.  This will help answer some of the many unknowns of the Sea Turtle species.  

150 eggs were in this nest, 1 used for DNA research, 149 relocated eggs

92 % Hatch rate of relocated eggs

     137 hatched eggs

12 whole eggs

             0 deceased Hatchlings

   1 live Hatchling

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

INVENTORY OF PROTECTED LOGGERHEAD NEST # 12

 From day one of protected Loggerhead Nest #12

To the inventory day of Nest # 12

All are gathering, NMB STP Volunteers as well as friends, family and many interested people on the beach coming to see what is happening.  The NMB STP Volunteers shine as they share their excitement and knowledge of the endangered Sea Turtle Species.  

The Inventory is done; there are 5 Live Hatchlings that were not able to make it out of the nest on their own.  While the inventory is being completed, all will get to look at an unviable egg and the hatchlings at a safe distance.

Now for the exciting time.   As we watch each one of the Hatchlings, as they make their way to the Ocean to start their journey of life.  A hopeful and serene feeling, that maybe one of these will be one of the ones that will make it to adulthood and help in the circle of life. 

THE INVENTORY RESULTS OF NEST # 12

127 eggs in this nest, 126 relocated eggs

90.05% Hatch success rate of relocated eggs

Out of the 126 relocated eggs

114 Hatched shells

8 Whole eggs

4 pipped eggs

5 live Hatchlings

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 TIME DAY OR NIGHT

INVENTORY OF PROTECTED NEST # 11

 From day one of the endangered Loggerhead Sea Turtle Nest #11. this was the morning after Chantal was clearing up.  She had laid her nest during the storm, very windy.  This nest was marked off so we did not lose the area that she laid in, as morning would leave almost none of the crawl or body pit left.

To the day of Inventory

The NMB STP have arrived to help.  They will share stories and information between each other and anyone that happens to come to this inventory.  All excited to see how their hard work has paid off.  The Volunteers Walk 7 days a week rain or shine looking for crawls or body pits so the nest can be protected.  

A little information about this nest and what we are doing is shared with all that have come. Also explaining that All Sea Turtles are endangered and this work is done with Strick protocols, training and permits that are needed to work with this endangered Species.

                                      

 All are allowed to see the egg chamber and the empty eggshells, along with any whole eggs that were not viable.

Once the inventory is completed, the 4 Hatchlings that were not able to make it out of the nest on their own will now have their debut as they crawl from the sand to the open deep blue.  Good luck little Hatchlings as you start your journey.

                                           

                                                     

                                           

This nest had 134 eggs, 1 used for DNA, so 133 relocated eggs. out of the 133 eggs

Great inventory results of 

96.7 % hatch success rate of relocated eggs

4 whole eggs

129 hatched eggs

1 deceased hatchling

4 Live Hatchlings

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