A little bit about the start of this Protected Loggerhead Sea Turtle nest #6. This Sea Turtle was coming to shore when it was called into the NMB STP Hotline around 11 pm. The NMB STP Volunteers arrived to make sure the beach is kept dark and quiet. She nested in peace and quiet, the body pit was roped off to protect it until daybreak. This nest was in a very busy beach with many lights that would unfortunately disorient the Baby Sea Turtle Hatchlings when it was their time to make it to the ocean.
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We have waited 3 full days as the set protocol for this endangered Sea Turtle Nest. These 3 days will give all the Baby Hatchlings that haven't made it out of the nest time to make it out on their own. Permitted NMB STP Volunteers will then dig up the remainder of the nest. They will count and document hatched eggs, whole eggs, pipped eggs and dead or alive Hatchlings, and if any live Hatchlings are left in the nest, they will be released on the beach. All of this important documentation will be entered into a national data base to help in continued future conservation efforts to help save the endangered Sea Turtle Species.
It looks like rain is in the forecast, so this inventory will be done quickly to make sure we can finish before the rain come down.
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Inventory is done and these are the results:
127 eggs in this nest, 1 used for DNA, so 126 relocated
81% hatch success rate
102 hatched eggshells
24 whole unhatched eggs
1 deceased Hatchling
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, Hatchlings and stranded Sea Turtles
If you encounter a nesting Sea Turtle, Hatchling or Stranded Sea Turtle in NMB or Briarcliffe areas please call immediately
NMB SSTP HOTLINE
843-213-9074
ANYTIME DAY OR NIGHT
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