The Seabrook Island Turtle Patrol will inventory:
- Nest #32 on Thursday, August 4, 2022 at 7:30 am.
- Nest #16 and #33 on Friday, August 5, 2022 at 7:30 am.
Nest #32 is located 50 yards south of Boardwalk 3, which is the nearest beach access.
Nest #16 is located 100 yards north of the cross and flag at Camp St. Christopher. The nearest beach access is Boardwalk 9.
After Nest #16 inventory is complete, the team will move to Nest #33 which is located 150 yards north of Boardwalk 6 which is the nearest beach access.
Click here to see a map showing the location of the boardwalks.
The timing of this inventory may be modified without notice in the event of inclement weather.
Turtle hatchlings typically emerge from the nest during the night to avoid exposure to daytime predators such as seagulls. This is called a boil because it really does look like a boiling event when the baby turtles emerge all at once from the nest which is a hole in the sand.
About three days after the boil, the Turtle Patrol team performs an inventory. They count the empty shells as well as the eggs that have not hatched for a report to DNR. Sometimes, some of the hatchlings are still at the bottom of the nest and haven’t made it out yet. The inventory team helps these hatchlings down to the water’s edge where they can gather strength for their journey across the ocean. We can’t always promise there will be hatchlings to see, but when there are, it is very exciting!
-Submitted by Jane Magioncalda for SI Turtle Patrol