DeBordieu Turtle Update

The volunteers have been busy walking the beach every morning this summer and turtle nesting season to document each night sea turtle nest activity.

Below are the latest reports.

Learn more about DeBordieu Hobcaw SCUTE.

July 11, 2012 - 3 false crawls - Green nest in Garden City


North: Denny had 3 false crawls this morning and reported that in each there was no thrown sand, no body pit and no broken vegetation.

Green nest: Garden City had a green sea turtle nest this morning (photo)! That beach has had several green nests over the last few years. These tracks are wider than loggerheads. Greens use their flippers simultaneously when crawling leaving parallel marks. Loggerheads alternate flippers leaving diagonal comma-like marks. The green body pit has been described as looking like a bomb went off!

DeBordieu 25 Hobcaw 26 SCUTE 103 SC 3199


July 10, 2012 - 9 crawls this morning!


There was lots of turtle activity last night on our 6 miles of beach with a total of 9 crawls (North 1, Middle 1, Hobcaw 7). There were 7 false crawls and 2 nests.

North: Ingrid and Tom had a natural nest 122 yds. south of the #11 mile marker.

Middle: Suzette had a U turn false crawl 75 yds. south of Walkway #7.

Hobcaw: Robin and Brandie had a total of 7 crawls that they believe were made by the same turtle with a right front or rear flipper problem. These turtles that are missing part or all of a flipper have difficulty digging chambers and sometimes make multiple attempts (photo). We call them all 'Gimpy'. Thankfully, this turtle successfully nested 65 yds. south of the #0 mile marker and Brandie happily located the eggs (Photo Gallery 5). It was a long night for this turtle and a long morning for Robin and Brandie!

DeBordieu 25 Hobcaw 26 SCUTE 102 SC 3179


July 09, 2012 - False crawl & unfortunate story


Hobcaw: Susan had a challenging crawl 82 yds. north of the #10 mile marker. She felt sure there was a nest but after much effort she had exhausted the possibilities and her water supply and called it a false crawl.

Turtles on the beach: Carolyn and her granddaughter walked the Middle this morning and met a gentleman who had an unfortunate story to tell them. He was out walking around 10:00 last night near Walkway #3 when a turtle emerged from the surf. Five vacationers rushed up to the turtle taking photos with their cell phones flashing and scared it back into the water. Some people just are getting the message...sea turtles and lights don't mix! Not only are they causing an aborted nesting attempt when this turtle is desperate to deposit her eggs, they are depriving themselves of an experience of a lifetime to see a turtle lay its eggs. This is the proper procedure if you encounter a turtle on the beach:
If a female turtle is seen coming on to the beach to nest, squat down and remain still. Turtles are very skittish on land and movement will cause her to return to the water without nesting.
Avoid interfering with or crowding around a turtle that is crawling to or from the ocean.
Minimize beachfront lighting and nightime beach activities, both of which might prevent sea turtles from coming ashore.
No flashlights, flash photography or other lighting devices should be used while observing the nesting turtle.

DeBordieu 24 Hobcaw 25 SCUTE 99 SC 3153