NMB PROTECED ENDANGERED LOGGERHEAD NEST 9

 A call coming into the hotline in the very early hours of the morning.  Still to dark to tell if a false crawl or nest.  A waiting game as daylight will give more clarity. 

 Oh yes as daylight comes upon Linda, she is happy to see a nest cavity.  But it won't be easy, this mother was very good as disguising her nest.  This is a very long body pit (nest) and will take two to probe to find eggs in a timely manner. 

What a special find as the walkers first come up the crawl (tracks) and body pit.

A beautiful body pit (nest) but may take some time to find, as her body pit is very long.

Many people out walking on the beach are delighted as the NMB STP explains to all who want to know what is going on.  They will go home with a new revelation on how everyone can do a part in saving the Sea Turtle species.  

One egg from every nest will be used for DNA Studies.   Information that will be gathered from the outer eggshell will carry information specific to this nesting mother.  Just some of the information gathered will include information that will give insight as to how many times she has nested, what beaches she nested on and how many nests she laid in a nesting year.  Allot of times these mothers will take a year or two sometimes more years off to recover before having another laying year.  The critical information gathered will be entered into a national data base to help in the conservation and future of saving the endangered Sea Turtle Species.

This nest was in the middle of a very busy beach, with many lights so this nest is relocated to a safer part of the beach. The eggs are carefully counted.  There were 147 eggs in this nest. A cage is put together and will protect the eggs.

Poles and ropes are put around the Nest with a sign indicating this is a protected endangered Sea Turtle Nest.

Great job to all that walked this morning and every morning.  Thier hard work is making the difference in helping to saving the endangered Sea Turtle Species.

All Sea Turtles 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 nesting Sea Turtle, Hatching or Stranded Sea Turtle or accidentally catch a Sea Turtle while fishing in NMB or Briarcliffe areas please call 

NMB STP HOTLINE

843-213-9074

Any time day or night