NMB RESCUED NESTING SEA TURTLE SUNDAY JULY 17 th

 A pretty amazing rescue of a Loggerhead Sea Turtle that had nested in the dunes in front of Sea Castle Condo Complex.  A call came into the NMB STP Hotline just before 7 am from someone at the Sea Castle Condo Complex, about a Sea Turtle on the pool deck of their condo. The caller described the turtle as having flippers and was huge, at least 3 feet in length.  Linda immediately knows this is a Sea Turtle in desperate need of help. Linda is out the door and on her way. Knowing more help will be needed, she picks up Chris P and Phil on the way.  Don, Kim, and Chris are also on the way.  A very helpful resident was waiting at the entrance to help NMB STP volunteers find a place to park, and bring the STP Volunteers to the pool area, this man also helped to bring this heavy sea turtle to the ocean.

When the NMB STP Volunteers arrive they find a very distressed Mother Loggerhead, that had either crawled down or had fallen down 3 steps and is trapped with no place to go.  She is hot, exhausted and scared. Linda finds a nearby hose and lightly sprays water on her carapace (shell), to help give her some very needed relief.

THIS ADULT FEMALE SEA TURTLE WAS TRAPPED A GOOD PART OF THE NIGHT AFTER SHE HAD NESTED. TIME IS OF THE ESSENCE, AS THE NMB STP VOLUNTEERS WORK QUICKLY TO GET THIS SCARED, EXHAUSTED SEA TURTLE TO THE OCEAN.

NOW TO GET HER TO THE OCEAN AS QUICKLY AS POSSIBLE WITH THE LEAST AMOUNT OF ADDED STRESS TO HER.  LINDA HAS A SPECTIALY MADE SLING FOR LARGER TURTLES.  THE VERY SCARED SEA TURTLE IS VERY ACTIVE AT THIS TIME. THEY HAVE TREMENDOUS STRENGHT, BUT WITH THE HELP OF STP VOLUNTEERS AND THE BYSTANDERS ALL VERY WILLING AND EAGER TO HELP. SHE IS PUT INTO THE SLING TO CARRY HER UP THE THREE STEPS OVER THE WALKWAY DOWN TO THE BEACH.

EVEN WITH THE SLING, THIS SEA TURTLE IS VERY HEAVY TO CARRY. WHEN THEY SAY IT TAKES A VILLAGE, IT REALLY DOES.

SHE IS PLACED A SHORT DISTANCE FROM THE OCEAN TO GIVE HER TIME TO ORIENTATE HERSELF AND TAKE THE LAST CRAWLS INTO THE OCEAN.

 

THE SUN IS VERY BRIGHT AND HOT, SHE HAS GOTTEN CONFUSED AND STARTED TO TURN AND IS TRYING TO HEAD THE WRONG WAY.  STP PATROL VOLUNTEERS LINDA, DON, PHIL AND VOLUNTEERS QUICKLY JUMP IN AND TURN HER AROUND.  

BEING RESOURCEFUL, LINDA IS BLOCKING THE BRIGHT HOT SUN FROM THE SEA TURTLE, WITH THE TURTLE SLING THAT WAS USED TO CARRY HER DOWN TO THE OCEAN.

OK NOW SHES GOT THIS!!!!!!!!!

AND INTO THE OPEN SEAS, TO HER SAFE AND HAPPY PLACE.

NOW ONE MIGHT THINK, END OF RESCUE? NOT EVEN CLOSE. NOW WITH TIME STILL BEING AN URGENT MATTER.  PER SC DNR GUIDLINES, IF A NEST IS FOUND, IT HAS TO BE MOVED BY 9 AM THIS MORNING.  SO, THE VERY DIFFICULT JOB OF TRYING TO FIND A SPOT INDICATING A NEST IN THE DUNES BEGINS. LINDA AND DON LOOK THOUGH THE THICK DUNES, WHILE MUCH OF THE CRAWL IS NOT EVEN VISIBLE THROUGH THE HEAVY PATCHES OF PLANTS AND SEA GRASS.

WELL, IF BY CHANCE THIS SEA TURTLE DID NEST, THIS IS THE ONE SPOT IT COULD HAVE BEEN, NOT MUCH TO GO ON.  

 

NOW WE ALL JOKE ABOUT FINDING A NEEDLE IN A HAYSTACK. WELL, THS WOULD BE THE CASE FOR THIS NEST.  OK HERE IT GOES, LINDA HAS STARTED TO PROB IN HOPES THAT MAYBE, JUST MAYBE SHE NESTED, AND THAT SHE NESTED IN THIS AREA.  THE FIRST SPOT, FIRST PROB AND GUESS WHAT, THE EGG CHAMBER IS FOUND.  I CAN'T TELL YOU WHAT LINDA'S FIRST THOUGHTS AND FEELINGS WERE AT THIS EXACT TIME, BUT THAT SMILE AS SHE LOOKED UP SAID IT ALL.

87 EGGS, ONE WAS FOUND BROKEN BY THE POOL, WHERE SHE WAS TRAPPED, THIS EGG WAS USED FOR THE DNA EGG.  AS THE EGGS WERE LAID IN AN AREA RIGHT IN FRONT OF BUILDINGS WITH BRIGHT LIGHTS, THE EGGS ARE MOVED TO A SAFER PART OF THE BEACH

PICTURE OF SOME OF THE INCOMING CRAWL.  REPORTS FROM PEOPLE WHO SAW HER COMING ASHORE WAS PEOPLE WERE SHINING LIGHTS ON HER AND FOLLOWEING HER, AS SHE WAS TRYING TO NEST. POOR THING, SHE MUST HAVE BEEN SO SCARED. 

PLEASE REMEBER, ALL SEA TURTLES ARE ENDANGERED, THEY ARE FEDERALLY AND STATE PROTECED BY LAW, IT IS AGAINST THE LAW TO TOUCH, HARASS, SHINE LIGHTS ON OR INTERFEAR IN ANY WAY WITH ANY SEA TURTLE.  SPECIAL PRECAUSTIONS, GUIDLINES AND PERMITS ARE NEEDED TO WORK WITH NESTING SEA TURTLES, NEST, EGGS AND STRANDED SEA TURTLES.

If you see a nesting Sea Turtle or stranding in NMB or Briarcliffe please call the

NMB STP Hotline

843-213-9074

Any time day or night