Monday, May 31, 2010

Nest News

It is just the beginning of the season and so far state wide we are off to a good start. There are 321 loggerhead nests and 1 leather back nest. I'm pretty excited about the leatherback nest. A leatherback is by far the biggest turtle we can expect to see in our parts weighing in at well over 2000 pounds! And get this, they mainly eat jelly fish!

In Horry county we are checking in at two nests so far. One is in North Myrtle Beach and the other one is in Pawley's Island. If you run across something that looks like a turtle crawl or a nest, be sure to call Myrtle Beach or Huntington State Park and report the nest and location.

The best site I've found for nest information from DNR is http://www.seaturtle.org/. They have a list of South Carolina Beaches and a ton of nesting info.

Thursday, May 27, 2010

The First Family!

There are so many local families that volunteer to patrol for sea turtle activity! And let me tell you, they are dedicated. These families wake up BEFORE sunrise to walk the beaches. But they say it is so rewarding. They have grown closer together as a family, and the kidos get a biology class every time they patrol. I'm featuring one family that started it all!

They were the first family to volunteer for Myrtle Beach State Park and through their dedication, they have inspired other families to follow suit. I can't wait to share their story with you! Catch their story on WMBF News at 6 this Sunday night. And if it gives you the itch to get involved, I'll tell you how you can start tracking turtles this summer!

Sunday, May 23, 2010

Time Will Tell...

    So I'm talking to Ann from Myrtle Beach State Park and she is giving me a rundown of all the species I can expect to see here in Horry county. I must say, we have a pretty good variety of turtles here. Kemps, loggerheads, and leather backs top her list. I don't have a favorite yet, but I couldn't believe how big these turtles get! It is truly amazing!
     As I'm looking at pictures of all of these turtles, my mind turns to the Gulf Coast Oil Spill crisis. I think about how Louisianna's marsh land will never be the same...ever. And how devistating the oil is to the wildlife and fishermen. What does this mean for our turtle population? Will we see a bigger variety of species seeking safety on our coasts? And most of all, will the oil drift our direction? I guess only time will tell.

Friday, May 21, 2010

It's Turtle Time!!

I'm so excited! Myrtle Beach State Park and S.C.U.T.E., South Carolina United Turtle Enthusiasts, are assigning a nest to me so I can follow it all summer long. I feel like a proud momma!

All summer I'm going to blog about nest progress, issues on our beaches that could hurt our sea turtle population and what everyone can do to help. You can also see updates on my facebook page and on WMBF News at 6 on Sundays. I hope you take the journey with me!