Area Turtle Nests Take A Hit

Tropical Storm Fay, followed by high winds after it passed kept the surf pounding until many nests could no longer take the constant wetness. When nests are saturated for long periods of time, the embryos do not get enough oxygen to survive.

The good side of this story is that Bonita Beach nests fared well.

Turtle nest dug up ahead of tropical storm

At Virginia Beach, a loggerhead turtle nest was so close to the ocean that the storm waves would drown everything inside. A biologist from a wildlife refuge was so concerned about the threatened species that, even though he thought it was possible the nest had already hatched, he decided to dig it to be sure. After digging in the rain as Tropical Storm Hanna approached, 27 baby turtles had been rescued and released. Fifty-one empty eggshells were found. Another 86 unhatched, rotted eggs were gathered. Because he cared enough to do this, more baby turtles have a chance at survival. Read the full story in The Virginian-Pilot.

Possible “flipper evacuation"

Read why and how 22 sea turtles may need to be evacuated. (The sixth article)

Baby Sea Turtles Get A Helping Hand

Members of the Pleasure Island Sea Turtle Project help around 100 baby turtles get out of their nest in a sort of induced labor, just hours before the expected arrival of Tropical Storm Hanna. Read how North Carolina is taking measures to protect their remaining sea turtle nests. (The story is the fourth article from the top.)

Is Beach Nourishment a Threat to Sea Turtles

There is plenty of ongoing controversy about this subject. Read some of the pros and cons.