INVENTORY ON PROTECTED ENDANGERED LOGGERHEAD SEA TURTLE NEST #8

 How this endangered Sea Turtle Nest began:  Two calls coming into the hotline about a Nesting Sea Turtle trying to come to shore to nest but people were shining lights on her (which is illegal).  The NMB STP Volunteers were soon there to keep all dark and quiet.  She was able to nest in peace as nature intended.  Just imagine pulling her heavy body all the way past the sand fence into the Dunes, with just her flippers. This Nesting Mother will then dig a hole about 18 to 24 inches deep with just her 2 back flippers, sometimes deeper depending on the species, then laying her eggs covering them back up witch a feat in itself.  She will then go back to the Ocean, crawling using just her flippers to carrying her heavy body back to the Ocean.  She may repeat this same duty, up to several times during her nesting year as she is doing her instinctive part to help save her species.  All this takes allot out of her as she does not eat the whole time while she is in her nesting phase.  Please always be respectful, stand a good distance away, never shine lights and never stand in front of her.

First the daunting duty of removing the protective cage and poles so this Nest can be inventoried.  So much sand has accumulated as the sand dunes are building up.  After the inventory the sand dunes will be restored, leveled out to resemble the natural Dunes building up. 

Many excited NMB STP Volunteers have come to help, they will talk and share stories and information amongst their fellow volunteers and all that have come to this inventory.  So much excitement to see how the hard work they put in has helped in saving the endangered Sea Turtle species.

Now it's time to start the inventory.  A little about how this nest was found, why it was relocated and why it is protected.  An explanation that all Sea turtle activity is only done with a permit through SCDNR, as all Sea Turtles are endangered and federally and state protected. The information gathered from this nest will be entered into a national database which will be used in future conservation efforts to help the endangered Sea Turtle species.

All are welcome to look at the empty eggshell and the unhatched egg, as many have not had the opportunity to see what the endangered Sea Turtle eggs look like.

There were 3 Baby Hatchlings that had not been able to make their way out of the egg chamber on their own, are allowed at a safe distance to see the Baby Hatchlings as they are released on the beach.

                                                       

Now for the inventory results

99% hatch success rate

118 eggs, 1 used for DNA studies, 117 eggs relocated

116 hatched eggshells

1whole unhatched egg

                        3 live hatchlings released on the beach

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 Turtle.

If you encounter a Nesting Sea Turtle, Hatchling or stranded Sea Turtle in the NMB or Briarcliffe areas please call immediately.

NMB STP HOTLINE

843-213-9074

ANYTIME DAY OR NIGHT