How can I help?
The South Carolina Beach Authority suggests that you:
·
Stay off the dunes. The sea turtles lay their eggs in the dunes
and when we keep them safe and clean we increase our chances of seeing sea
turtles there.
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·
Don’t pick sea oats. These plants help maintain the health of the
dune by providing structure for the dunes and adding essential nutrients for
the eggs in the soil.
·
Pick up litter.
We don’t want the turtles getting sick because they saw a plastic bag and
thought that it looked like a yummy jelly fish.
·
Please clean up all beach chairs, toys, etc.
when you head home. Sometimes turtles
find themselves cornered or confused when they encounter these objects.
·
Fill in holes.
Turtles can become trapped in them.
·
Don’t set off fireworks. Sea turtles can become frightened of the
noise and swim away. Sometimes they also
eat the debris causing sickness.
·
Public sea turtle patrols will take place every
Friday beginning June 6 and running till August 8 at the Myrtle Beach State
Park. These educational walks start at 6
am and are led by a local sea turtle rescue expert who will tell you all about
Myrtle Beach’s relationship with sea turtles (free with park admission). Who knows, you might even spot a sea turtle.
Click here for the Myrtle Beach State Park website. For a useful sea turtle handout, see "Beach Information" in the side panel and click on the "loggerhead sea turtle activity" link.
What if I see a sea
turtle?
We can all play a role in protecting sea turtles in our
area.
·
If you see a turtle or turtle tracks, call and inform a
park ranger. The phone number is 843-238-5325.
·
Turtles use the light of the moon to guide them
back to the ocean and can be misdirected by onshore lights. During the egg-laying season sea turtle
rescue groups ask that you avoid using flashlights or cell phone lights on the
beach.
·
Remain quiet since the turtles are spooked by
noise and movement.
·
Keep your distance, staying low and behind the
sea turtle.
·
If you are lucky enough to see babies crawling
across the shore, let them crawl on their own so that they can build the
muscles they’ll need to survive in the ocean.
You can also make sure the path to the ocean is clear and open.
·
Watch where you step.
A few more turtle
facts
·
On our beaches we mostly see Loggerheads but
other turtles like Kemps Ridley, Leatherback and Green turtles have
occasionally made an appearance. There
are 7 known turtle species roaming the world’s oceans.
·
Loggerhead Sea turtles are the state reptile of
South Carolina.
·
Each spring/summer turtles swim ashore and crawl up the sand to lay their eggs.
·
Eggs can take approximately 60 days to hatch.
Sand conditions such as temperature and wetness play a role in how long the
eggs incubate.
·
Turtle eggs play an important role in keeping
the delicate sand dunes healthy, providing essential nutrients to the dune
grasses.
·
Sea turtles are one of the few animals that eat
ocean grass, regulating the growth of this important habitat.
Additional resources
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