Sea Turtle Patrols Protect Threatened Species
By Lenore McKenzie-Morris
Bonita Goodwin's reward for walking the beach every week in search of Loggerhead turtle nests was the sight of her children taking inventory of broken shells and unhatched eggs at Myrtle Beach State Park.
Just three days after dozens of the turtles hatched and made their way from a sand dune at the park into the ocean waves at nightfall, Goodwin's family was among the 30 or so witnesses to the park's careful management of this threatened species.
"I've been on the turtle patrol for two years," Goodwin said. "We have to give a day a week and be at the park by 6 a.m. when they open. We patrol a section of the beach looking for turtle tracks from the end of May through August. I walk with my mom."
Leta Harbaugh watched as her grandchildren crouched carefully around the edge of the nest while one of the park naturalists dug about an arm's length down into the sand in search of eggs. The children then lifted out pieces of 81 eggshells and 15 unhatched eggs.
Ann Malys-Wilson, a park naturalist, said the nest was relocated from another location in Myrtle Beach on July 29 to provide it some protection.
"They hatched on Tuesday night," she said. "It took them a while to dribble out. It was really cold, they did a lot of circling.
"There were two on Thursday morning that weren't moving. We took them in and warmed them up a little and released them later with some second graders."
While some on the beach had hoped to find at least one more turtle alive in the nest area, all those who could make it to the waves had already done so. There was one final set of turtle tracks in the sand to show that the last one had recently hatched and made his way into the ocean.
Loggerhead sea turtles hatch at night and make their way in the darkness toward the reflected moonlight and the whitecaps of breaking ocean waves. No photography is permitted at night. Sea turtles are often confused by lights from homes and hotels along the beaches and never make it to the ocean.
"We got called out for a nest back in July," said Amanda Jenkins, assistant park manager. "It was a wild nest no one knew about. We found the turtles in the swimming pool filters at hotels."
Jenkins said the naturalists brought the turtles back to the park and released them.
"There were maybe seven or eight of them. Most of them made it."
Jenkins said only one of the five nests in the park this year was native to the site. The rest were reported to park officials who relocated the nests along the one-mile long beachfront of the park. Fewer nests were reported this year and park officials have no way of knowing how many turtle nests were spawned locally this season.
"Last year Coastal Carolina students patrolled the whole beach because of renourishment," Jenkins said. "Otherwise the police may spot one or someone else may report one."
Malys Wilson said the 81-eggshell count from the inventory meant that nest was a good sign.
"The purpose of the inventory is to get the data, to find out if it was successful," said Wilson. "This nest was. We have to wait three days after they hatch to see."
For Bonita Goodwin, the trip to the park was part of her children's home schooling experience.
"I work with Ann to get a lot of their science stuff," Goodwin said.
Park naturalists say there is a waiting list for the turtle patrols, but those who are interested can sign up and will be called when a post becomes available. There is a nature center at Myrtle Beach State Park where you can learn more about Loggerhead turtles or you can visit http://www.nmfs.noaa.gov/pr/species/turtles/loggerhead.htm.
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