MONDAY JULY 25TH HOOKED KEMPS RIDLEY SEATURTLE STRANDING ON CHERRY GROVE PIER

 A call coming into the NMB STP Hotline, a hooked turtle on the Cherry Grove Pier.  Austin and his Wife Taylor had accidentally hooked a Sea Turtle. Linda is out the door, first to arrive,   NMB STP Volunteers could get there, Chuck and Chris are also on the way.

Before the NMB STP arrived, Austin and his wife Taylor, assisted by bystander Nichols, safely brought this critically endangered Kemps Ridley Sea Turtle up to the Pier by the drop net.  This drop net was specifically made and donated by the NMB STP to safely bring up any hooked sea turtles. Great rescue, as Austin and Taylor had done everything right to ensure the safest and least stress to this critically endangered Kemps Ridley Sea Turtle. 

Because All Sea Turtles are endangered, sometimes people think they will get into trouble if they accidentally hook a Sea Turtle and may cut the line and release the turtle back into the water with the hook still in its mouth.  Please know you will not ever get into trouble for accidentally hooking a Sea Turtle. BUT WHAT YOU DO NEXT, is what is important, for the survival of that Sea Turtle. They need desperate help. Call the hotline nearest you or DNR in your region.  If you are on the Cherry Grove Pier or Apache Pier,  there are drop nets to bring a hooked Sea Turtle up on the Pier,  It's very important to never bring a hooked Sea Turtle up by the line, as this can cause allot of damage to the Sea Turtle, if a net is unavailable or you hook a Sea Turtle on the Beach, gently and slowly walk it  onto shore, please never cut the line and release, they need help. keep at least 2 feet of line with the hook.

WHEN THE NMB SEA TURTLE PATROL, ARRIVE THIS HOOKED, CRITACALLY ENDANGERED KEMPS RIDLEY HAD SAFELY BEEN BROUGHT UP ON THE PIER BY AUSTIN HIS WIFE TAYLOR, WITH THE ASSISTENCE OF NICHOLS.

 MANY THANKS TO AUSTIN AND TAYLOR

LINDA AND CHUCK ARE CHECKING TO SEE IF THERE ARE ANY OTHER VISIBLE HOOKS OR WOUNDS THAT THIS KEMPS MAY HAVE.

MANY HAVE QUESTIONS AS LINDA IS WALKING OFF THE PIER, LINDA QUICKLY EXPLAINS WHAT TO DO IF THEY EVER ACCIDENTALLY HOOK A SEA TURTLE. THAT YOU WILL NOT BE IN TROUBLE FOR ACCIDENTALLY HOOKING A SEA TURLE, NEVER CUT THE LINE AND RELEASE THEM, LEAVE AT LEAST 2 FT OF LINE SO THE HOSPITAL HAS SOMETHING TO WORK WITH.  PLEASE CALL FOR HELP, AS THIS IS THIER BEST CHANCE FOR SURVIVAL.

ONCE THIS KEMPS IS QUIICLY TAKEN OFF THE PIER, OUT OF THE HOT SUN, MEASUREMENTS ARE TAKEN, THE HOOK AND LINE ARE SECURED TO THE CARAPACE (SHELL) GIVING ENOUGH SLACK, SO IT DOES NOT PULL ON THE HOOK, BUT SNUG ENOUPH THAT IT WILL NOT BE ACCIDENTALLY PULLED WHEN THIS SEA TURTLE AS  MOVES. ANY OTHER VISUALS ARE NOTED, AND FORWARDE  TO THE SEA TURTLE CARE CENTER GIVING THE CARE CENTER AS MUCH INFO AS POSSIBE BEFORE THE ARRIVAL OF THE TURTLE AT THE SEA TURTLE CARE CENTER IN CHARLESTON.

THE KEMPS IS SMALL, ABOUT 10.5 INCHES

CHUCK IS NOW PUTTING THIS SMALL KEMPS IN THE CAR, TO TRANSPORT HIM TO THE SEA TURTLE CARE CENTER IN CHARLESTON.  HE WILL KEEP HIS CAR AT PROPER TEMPERTURE, AS IT IS VERY IMPORTANT THE SEA TURTLES TEMPERTURE WILL STAY WITHIN 3 DEGREES.

UPDATE SO FAR ON THIS KEMPS IS THAT THE SEA TURTLE CARE CENTER WAS ABLE TO REMOVE THE HOOK WITHOUT SURGERY.  THEY NAMED THIS LITTLE KEMPS CELESTE

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, eggs and strandings

If you see an nesting Sea Turtle, stranding, hatchling, or have hooked a Sea Turtle and are in NMB or Briarcliffe please call the NMB STP Hotline.

843-213-9074

Any time day or night