NORTH MYRTLE BEACH SEA TURTLE TALKS

THIS IS A FREE PRESENTATION AT THE NMB HISTORICAL MEUSEUM ON WEDNESDAYS FROM 2-3 given by the NMB STP outreach program.

THIS IS FOR ALL AGES YOUNG AND OLD. COME AND LEARN ABOUTH THE ENDANGERED SEA TURTLE SPECIES NESTING RIGHT HERE IN THE CAROLINAS.

A nice way to spend the afternoon, all are welcome!!!

NMB STP ENDANGERED LOGGERHEAD NEST #14

What a beautiful morning, upon finding this beautiful crawl leading up to the perfect body pit (nest). A delight for these NMB STP Volunteers, but their work is not done yet, they will keep on walking to make sure no other nest are to be found on the rest of their segment. You never know if one or more nests will be found on a particular day.  They have completed their segment and return to this body pit to help to protect this endangered Sea Turtle Nest. Soon more NMB STP Volunteers eagerly have come to help. All knowing the importance of protecting the endangered Sea Turtle species.

This beautiful crawl and body pit will be examined to determine the best possible place to start looking for the eggs so they can be protected.  This will be done by a permitted, trained Volunteer according to guidelines for the endangered Sea Turtle Nest. As you can see in the background the many bright lights would bring the hatchlings towards the bright lights.  To give these baby hatchlings the best and safest chance they will be relocated to a safer part of the beach.

Many Volunteers will talk about the elusive endangered Sea Turtle Species.  They will talk about what is being done and the importance of protecting them to help in the survival of the future of the Sea Turtle species

Great job to all of the NMB STP Volunteers out walking today and every day, and all that are out helping to protect the endangered Sea Turtle Nest.   They are all making the difference to help save the species.

 All Sea Turtles are endangered; they are federally and state protected.  Special guidelines, training and permits are required to work with nesting Sea Turtles, Hatchlings or stranded Sea Turtles.

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

NMB STP HOTLINE

843-213-9074

ANYTIME DAY OR NIGHT

NMB protected endangered Sea Turtle Nest #13

 One of the beautiful sunrise mornings the NMB STP Volunteers are out walking their segments. What a beautiful crawl with a possible nest.  There were just a few signs this may be a nest, but not the typical easy to see signs.  It may be a challenge to find these eggs if they are here.  But the NMB STP Permitted Volunteer is well versed and trained to locate the eggs.

Probing is done and eggs were found within a few minutes!  While this nest looks like it's in the ideal place to leave In-situ (where it was laid), it will have to be relocated.  This nest is close to the Dunes, but the bright lights would disorient the baby Hatchlings once they emerge, drawing them away from the ocean and to the danger of going the wrong way.

Because this nest will be relocated the NMB STP Volunteers will count the eggs.

103 eggs were found in this egg chamber, 1egg will be used for DNA studies, 102 eggs are relocated.

 An egg chamber will be made to replicate the original nest.  The same depth with it wider at the bottom to resemble an inverted Light bulb will be dug to transfer these precious endangered Loggerhead Sea Turtle eggs.  Many NMB STP Volunteers have come to help.  Many beachgoers that have come to see what we are doing. They greeted with excited NMB STP Volunteers that are eagerly sharing much information about the Endangered Sea Turtle Species.

A cage is put up around the new egg chamber, poles and signs indicating this is a protected Endangered Sea Turtle Nest

Great job to all of the NMB STP Volunteers out walking today and everyday looking for the elusive endangered Sea Turtle Crawls and Nest and all the have come to help.  They are all making the difference in helping to save the endangered Sea Turtle Species.

All Sea Turtles, Hatchlings, Nest and stranded Sea Turtles are endangered.  All Sea Turtles are federally and state protected.  Special guidelines, training and permits are required to work with Nesting Sea Turtles, Hatchlings, nest 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 STP HOTLINE

843-213-9074

ANY TIME DAY OR NIGHT

NMB protected endangered loggerhead Sea Turtle Nest # 12

A beautiful crawl (tracks) coming and going. This is hard work for her as she is dragging her heavy body up onto the sand using just her flippers. She will then need dig the preciouses egg chamber, with just her two back flippers. She will typically dig down 18-24 inches deep, sometimes deeper depending on the species. Then it's time for her to lay her eggs, burry them back up and then throw sand with her flippers to disguise her nest.  After all of this she then will drag her heavy body back into the Ocean. Exhausting work for her and she may repeat this for a typical 2-6 times during the year she nest.  She will not eat during this time, so if you see a Sea Turtle trying to nest, please stay back, no light and certainly to not hinder or touch her. She is out of her environment and gets scared and stressed very easily, using up her precious's energy needed to nest.

 Well, this endangered Loggerhead Sea Turtle mother did her job very well.  Once the endangered Sea Turtle lays her eggs, she will do her best to disguise the egg chamber. A long body with a couple of places they could possibly be.  While probing is done to locate the egg chamber, the NMB STP Volunteers are in their happy place, they get to talk to many beachgoers who are very curious.  Many will go home with a new appreciation of the endangered Sea Turtle conservation efforts to save the Endangered Sea Turtle species.

They eggs are carefully relocated into a new egg chamber made to replicate the original nest according to SCDNR guidelines by trained NMB STP Volunteers and permits. Since this nest is relocated, we take that opportunity to count the eggs. 

There were 119 eggs in this nest. One is used for DNA studies so 118 relocated. 

Once relocated, a cage, poles with rope is put around the nest. A sign indicating this is a protected endangered Sea Turtle Nest. 

We have Corrina's Grandchildren that will help put up a flag and patriotic on the poles. 

Great job to all of the NMBSTP Volunteers, all making the difference in helping to save the future of the endangered Sea Turtle species.

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 STP HOTLINE

843-213-9074

ANYTIME DAY OR NIGHT

NMB STP Volunteers protect No Mans Land in Myrtle Beach 3rd nest

 Thankful for the Myrtle Beach Police coming to keep the crowds away so this endangered Sea Turtle was able to nest in piece.  Unfortunately, some people do not realize that all Sea Turtles are endangered, they are federally and state protected.  It is illegal to harass or interfere in any way; this includes shining lights on and touching or hindering them in any way. There are high penalties up to jail time for interfering with an endangered species. 

 The police put cones and tape around the body pit (nest) to protect this nest until the NMB STP Volunteers arrive at daybreak. Thank you to the Myrtle Beach Police, also helping to guide her to the ocean as allot of times they will head towards the lights.

The body pit will be examined to try to determine the best guess at the location of the eggs. With so many footprints from people it had wiped out the incoming crawl, which made it a little harder to help determine where the eggs were.

Egg were found by permitted Volunteers, because this is in a very busy part of the beach with many high-rise buildings the eggs will be relocated to a safer undisclosed location on the beach.

There were 115 eggs with 1 used for DNA research, 114 are relocated.

The kids who have come to see what is going on and learn all out the Endangered Loggerhead Nest are now helping to fill in the empty hole left after the eggs are taken out of the egg chamber. 

While the NMB STP Volunteers are on the beach they get a little added excitement. Nature at its finest, the deer were not hindered or scared.  We kept our distance just as it should be.  It was almost like they knew they were in the presence in kindred spirits.  We all stood in our places just watching at ah as they peacefully came and then disappeared back behind the Dunes. 

This picture was taken with the camera being zoomed in, at no time were the deer approached.

When they say it takes a village! What a TEAM.

Once the poles are put up, rope and signs indicating this is a protected Endangered Sea Turtle Nest are attached to the rope.

Great job to all of the NMB STP Volunteers who are out everyday walking, making it possible to locate and protect the elusive Endangered Sea Turtle Nest.

All Sea Turtles are endangered, they are federally ad state protected.  Special guidelines, training and permits are required to work with nesting Sea Turtles, Hatchlings and stranded Sea Turtles.

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

NMB STP HOTLINE

843-213-9074

ANYTIME DAY OR NIGHT