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

Kemps Ridley Stranding

 Meet Teriyaki

This little Kemps was called into the Hotline by NMB STP Volunteer Tammy. The little kemps Ridley was brought up on shore a little away from the waterline so she/he would not wash back out to Sea.   

Once Sea Turtles Hatch, make their trek on the sand and enter the great big blue, their journey will start. They do not come back to shore unless they are Nesting or in need of help.

This kemp has one flipper missing but had healed.  Once at the Sea Turtle Reaches the SC Sea Turtle hospital in Charleston, they will be able to determine the best care for this Kemps.

 Everything was done right with this little Kemp's. A call was made. Trained and permitted NMB STP Volunteers arrive, with contact with SCDNR this little Kemps is quickly on the Way to get the much needed and urgent help it needs.

The SC Sea Turtle hospital is ready; the minute the Sea Turtle arrives its care and treatment begins. We hope the best for Teriyaki. 

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 the NMB STP Hotline immediately.

NMB STP HOTLINE

843-213-9074

anytime day or night

live Endangered Kemps Ridley Sea Turtle

 Meet Aioli

Kemps Ridley Sea Turtles are the smallest and most endangered of all the Sea Turtles

Aioli Was hooked by accident on Cherry Grove Pier.  While the fisherman was bringing this small juvenile Kemp's Ridley up with the Turtle safe net, the line was broken. It is recommend having at least 2 feet of line left so the Sea Turtle Hospital has something to work with, when possible.

 The fisherman brought Aioli to the bait house where the Cherry Grove Team is well versed and fast to react, securing the Kemps out of the hot sun and in a quiet place until the NMB STP Volunteer arrived. 

Many thanks to the fisherman in making the call and the Cherry Grove pier for all of the help they give us.  All Sea Turtles are endangered; the stress levels can affect the Turtles health drastically.  The great help and quick action by Cherry Grove pier help to ensure the least amount of added stress to the Turtles.

 Pictures and all information are shared with SC DNR.  The hook was still in the mouth, so transport by trained and permitted Sea Turtle Patrol Volunteers are underway.  Little Aioli will be closely monitored while being transported. 

Once at the Sea Turtle hospital the medical team was able to remove the hook safely.  Prognoses on this little Kemps is very good. 

As we hear updates of Aioli we will keep everyone posted. 

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 are in the NMB or Briarcliffe areas and encounter a Nesting Sea Turtle, Hatchling or stranded Sea Turtle please call:

NMB STP HOTLINE

843-213-9074

anytime day or night

Here comes Relish the 3rd live stranding in NMB

 Meet Relish, the Juvenile Green Sea Turtle

Relish was called into the NMB STP Hotline on May 20th.  He/she was floating out in the Ocean about 10 feet from shore. Concerned Sam saw this and called the NMB STP and with guidance was able to bring onto the shore.  soon the NMB STP permitted Stranding Team arrive. 

Time is of the essence for this little one. She/ He was carefully transported with approval from SCDNR to the Sea Turtle Care Center in Charleston SC.  Special guidelines and temperature maintenance is carefully monitored during transport. 

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

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

NMB STP Hotline

8433-213-9074

Any time Day or night

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

 

NMB STP 1st live Sea Turtle Stranding

 Meet Alfredo

Just after the NMB STP Startup meeting when everyone was about to head home.  A call in about a stranded Sea Turtle.  The permitted Stranding team jumps into action and are soon on the Beach.

With disappointment, the Sea turtle had been washed out to Sea before we arrived.  Hopeful that it would come back in on the beach as Sea Turtles only come to shore if they are nesting or in need of help.

By the time a Sea Turtle strands on land they are already in a fragile state, and time is often of the essence.  

But an hour and a half later the call we were all hoping for came in. Soon this Sea Turtle was in the safe hands of Permitted Sea Turtle Volunteers.  This Sea Turtle was in very bad shape.

 with permits and the ok from SCDNR the Sea Turtle is brought to the Sea Turtle Hospital in Charleston.

  Special guidelines and protocols along with maintaining temperatures are closely monitored while transport is being done   Thankfully this juvenile Green Sea Turtle is in the best care.

 

An update on the Juvenile Green Sea Turtle

Alfredo has begun to gain some weight, while Alfredo still has a long way to go this is a positive for this little endangered Green Sea Turtle.

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

If you encounter a Nesting Sea Turtle or Stranded Sea Turtle in NMB or Briarcliffe areas, please call the NMB STP Hotline immediately

NMB STP Hotline

843-213-9074

Any time Day or Night