NMB SEA TURLE DEAD STRANDING # 9 JULY 1st

Early call from  Horry County Sanitation called about a dead turtle at the water line, Kingston Plantation.  NMB STP Volunteer Tammy was out on the section of beach looking for possible sea turtle crawl or nest.  While out walking the Volunteers may also come across dead or alive strandings. Sadly,  Tammy was notified and she immedietly went to the area, finding  dead Kemp's Ridley. 

The Kemp's Ridleys are the rarest and most critically endangered out of all of the Sea Turtle species.  By taking measurements we know she was very close to reaching adulthood.  While some juvenile Kemp's Ridleys spend some time in the Carolinas foraging for food, it is very rare for an adult Kemps to nest on our beaches. There have been only 7 documented Kemp's Ridley nest in the last 30 years. 2 of them have been in NMB.  A very sad day to see this beautiful kemp's.  While no positive cause of death is determined, there was a hook found in its mouth, fishing line and hooks wrapped around its flipper and neck.

 Many things can become an entanglement for not only sea turtles, but all ocean life, birds, and wildlife that share our environment with us. HOW CAN WE HELP? Please take discarded fishing line off the piers and beach, discard of properly.  keep plastic bags and plastic bottles home or dispose of properly.  Some very simple but sometimes overlooked actions could make the difference for the sea life along with all other wildlife.  Be the hero save a life, PACK IT IN... PACK IT OUT:  take everything you came to the beaches with off the beach when you leave. Take it home or dispose of unwanted items in proper recetacles

 LEAVE ONLY FOOTPRINTS IN THE SAND. 

SADLEY NMB STP TAMMY'S CALL INTO THE NMB STP HOTLINE THIS MORNING IS ABOUT A DEAD KEMP'S RIDLEY

PHOTOS ARE TAKEN, MEASUREMENTS ARE DONE, AND ANY ABNORMALITIES ARE DOCUMENTED

CHUCK IS DOING A PIT SCAN TO CHECK FOR ANY PIT TAGS.  ALSO LOOKING FOR  FLIPPER TAGS AND A LIVING TAGS ON THE SHELL.  NONE ARE FOUND.

FISHING LINE WAS FOUND AROUND TURTLES NECK AND AROUND THE LEFT FRONT FLIPPER.

FISHING LINE VERY TIGHTLY WRAPPED AROUND THE FLIPPER

FISHING LINE WAS FOUND IN ENBEDDED IN TURTLES MOUTH

CUTTING A TURTLE FREE FROM FISHING LINE, LEAVING A LONG TRAIL OF LINE CAN CAUSE MANY MORE PROBLEMS FOR A TURTLE AS IT BECOMES ENTANGLD IN THE LINE

All Sea Turtles are endangered, they are federally, and state protected. Special training and permits are required to work with a nesting Sea Turtle, nest, eggs and a stranded Sea Turtles.

If in NMB or Briarcliffe areas and you see a nesting Sea Turtle or stranding, please call 

The NMB STP Hotline

843-213-9074

Anytime Day or Night