Leatherback Turtle nest 6/8/2008

:shock: what a monster of a leatherback.
that's awesome.

...oh, happy day! Thanks!

That is just fabulous. Way to go Christian and Turtle Watch!! Now everybody, turn off your lights, fill in your holes and take your junk off the beach. Please.

Leatherbacks may have been nesting on that spot for hundreds of generations.

http://montereybay.com/creagrus/sea_turtles.html

The Leatherback Sea-Turtle Dermochelys coriacea is a very distinctive and different sea-turtle. First, it is by far the world's largest sea-turtle, typically weighing 600-1000 pounds and some have tipped the scales at 2000 pounds. Second, it lacks scutes and scales and instead has a leathery carapace with prominent longitudinal ridges. Third, it has the longest migrations of any pelagic turtle and wanders widely the tropical and subtropical oceans of the world. Yet there are only a very few limited nesting beaches: one large and critical beach in western Mexico, another in Indonesia, and a few others scattered elsewhere (including Costa Rica). Fourth, it feeds only jellyfish and relatives, and can dive up to 3200 feet deep in search of giant jellyfish.

Wow! thank you! I was hoping someone would post a pic I was wondering what they looked like after seeing the pic of the trail!

That is fantastic! I showed it to my 7 year old and he asked if we could go down and see it. Mind you we just got home from our two months down there. For those two months he would get up each morning and walk with me looking to see if a turtle had come up to lay eggs.
How awesome was that to be the same person two years in a row to find this. What a special person!

I bet Christian is smiling a bit more today. Good thing the turtle didn't come ashore at the beach near Goatfeather's, as there were holes big enough to bury multiple large sea turtles. Made me want to slap somebody.

Makes me want to buy a gun, drive to sowal and camp out on the beach. ;-)

How many laws have I broken?

This is amazing!

I SAID fill it in!

Will they have to move that one?

Will they have to move that one?

It looks like it is already flagged in place so I would guess no. They pretty much have to move them right away. That being said, it looks like any decent sized storm could result in flooding.

giant leatherback sea turtle

No, the nest is being left where it is--it's too hard to find the eggs on such a big nest, and this nest was in front of one of those dreaded seawalls, and TurtleWatch is not allowed to move nests in front of seawalls.

Yeah, what a cool experience to find a leatherback nest again in almost the same spot as last year! Her track was about 7' wide--even bigger than the one last year. She's one of the few that defied the odds to make it back to nest--the great turtle mother is full of mysteries.

It looks like it is already flagged in place so I would guess no. They pretty much have to move them right away. That being said, it looks like any decent sized storm could result in flooding.

It just looked too close to the water. They could surround it with geo tubes. :roll:

It just looked too close to the water. They could surround it with geo tubes. :roll:

Until they get undermined and sink below the water, or roll on top of the nests

When can we expect the eggs to hatch? I'll be there the second week of Sept.

When can we expect the eggs to hatch? I'll be there the second week of Sept.

Gestation period is usually close to 60 days so you will be there a little early.

There you are Christian, to the left side of your photo! That must be Joey with you, correct?
Hopefully you went out and bought a lottery ticket after that find.

protection

How can the nest be protected? Is there a group in control of this? We are coming down next week........should we take a shift standing sentry (armed?).

It is a federal crime to mess with the nest or the contents. There has only been one nest this year being messed with over in Miramar Beach. Someone has pulled up the marking stakes a couple times, but hasn't messed with the actual nest as of yet. There are several people keeping on eye on that one including the Sheriff's office and they will catch someone eventually and wring their scrawny little necks.
There are yellow federal signs posted at each nest explaining what is there and what the laws are regarding it. People seem to be very good about leaving the nests alone.
Keep your fingers crossed and thanks for the armed offer.

Minnesota! I'm from Minnesota too.

How can the nest be protected? Is there a group in control of this? We are coming down next week........should we take a shift standing sentry (armed?).

Carry your cell phone and if you see someone messing with it call the cops. Then go over and them.

Carry your cell phone and if you see someone messing with it call the cops. Then go over and them.

...post that number!!!

...post that number!!!

luckily our law enforcement office has an easy number to remember. I call it whenever I suspect a drunk driver and what not 267-2000!

luckily our law enforcement office has an easy number to remember. I call it whenever I suspect a drunk driver and what not 267-2000!

Thanks! I will go put this in my cell phone right now! area code 850? I called it sowal sheriff...what is it exactly?