This week was a busy one on and off the shore of Seabrook Island with nest 7 hatching, or boiling, and eight new nests. Be sure to keep a look out for notices on the Seabrook Island Turtle Patrol website (https://www.siturtlepatrol.com/nest-inventories) or on Tidelines about inventories of nests that are done three days after they boil. It can be quite the event with education and maybe even a hatchling or two. Not all the fun was on the beach this week. We also participated in the Independence Day Parade with the beautifully decorated Turtle Truck and two LSVs.
This week was off to a slow start with no nests on Sunday, June 30 through Tuesday, July 2 but on Wednesday, July 3, Judy Morr, Anne Snelgrove and Kathy Thompson found nests 42 and 43. A safer spot for the 90 eggs from nest 42 was found. Nest 43 was in a low-lying spot behind the dunes that would probably collect water so 123 eggs were relocated to an ocean facing slope on a nearby dune.Visitors on the beach had some major excitement Tuesday night when they saw a turtle emerge from the water near the very popular Boardwalk 3 around 9:30 pm. They forwarded some pictures and reported that they left the area but people were gathering around with flashlights. Unsurprisingly, she turned around due to the unwanted attention. Perhaps she came back at a later time and left nest 42. If you are on the beach at night, please use flashlights with red light or cover your flashlights with red film.
Maybe it was the fireworks the night before or the fact that the turtles knew the truck wasn’t available Thursday, July 4 but there was no turtle nesting activity on our beaches. Most of the excitement for Seabrook Island Turtle Patrol took place off the beach as we participated in Seabrook’s Independence Day Parade. Our truck and two LSVs delighted the onlookers. Thanks to the following people for their decorating skills and/or participation in the parade: Joleen Ardaiolo, Louise Bavier, Valerie Doane, Carole Heilman, Judy Morr, Elaine Morris, Donna Mrozek, Nancy Shenton, Anne Snelgrove and Lynda Zegers (a big hit as The Turtle), along with special guests Kate, Karen, Lana, Lyndsay, Owen, Raelyn and Silas.
The turtles may have taken a holiday for Independence Day but returned to work in full force Friday, July 5 with five new nests! Sandy MacCoss, Brandy Embrey, Kim Hanson and Carmen Hughes found nests 44, 45 and 47. Nest 44 had 69 eggs that needed to be relocated. 115 eggs from Nest 45 were relocated. Nest 47 presented a significant problem as the momma turtle disrupted a previous nest in the “condominium” area at Boardwalk 3 so 103 eggs were relocated and new posts and caution tape were put up at the original nest site.
Nest 46 was found by Judy Morr, Kerry McPartland, Nancy Shenton and Wendy Holschuh and 102 eggs needed to be relocated. Congratulations to Kerry as this was her first nest since starting with the turtle patrol!
Walkers Marnie Ellis, J-Anna Smith, Kim Warchol and Betty Connell found nest 48 on the beach in front of Camp Saint Christopher that had unfortunately been found by coyotes first. We believe nest 48 had about 65 eggs.
There was good news and bad news on Saturday, July 6. Nest 49 was found to be almost fully predated near Camp Saint Christopher just like nest 48 on the previous day. Out of 99 eggs in nest 49, only one viable egg was found. We have named it Lonesome George and provided a new solitary nest for him. We are not optimistic about George’s chances for survival but we can hope. The good news was that nest 7 in front of Camp Saint Christopher has hatched, or boiled. Even though the early nests usually take about 60 days to boil, this one had an incredibly short incubation period of only 49 days. This short incubation period is undoubtedly due to the extremely warm temperatures. Walkers J-Anna Smith, Marnie Ellis and Donna Mrozek located the tell-tale tracks and found three hatchlings that were struggling in the heat. They were gently escorted to the shore by the walkers. There were coyote tracks nearby but Marnie counted at least 23 tracks that made it to the water. If you find adult turtles, hatchling tracks or hatchlings, please do not touch them and contact the Seabrook Island Turtle Patrol or the South Carolina Department of Natural Resources immediately. Sea Turtles in our area are all threatened species and need to be treated with care and respect.
-Submitted by Anne Snelgrove for Seabrook Island Turtle Patrol
(Image credit: Seabrook Island Turtle Patrol)