Turtle nest at Bella Vita

[Andy A]

Thank you Andy, I didn't see you over there. I was called and showed up when she was in the process of finishing up the nest. I had to park at Goatfeathers and head West to find the nest. Your walkover was much closer to the nest and so after she left, I moved my vehicle to your neighborhood and we moved the nest. It had 106 eggs in it and was a Loggerhead. The nest was moved straight back between two sand fences to get it out of traffic's way.

You must have missed me hollering at the lady who had no clue there was even a turtle on the beach as her dog was running all over the place unleashed. It was within 50 feet of the turtle when she finally figured out there was a turtle and she leashed the dog. Glad the dog didn't spot the turtle, that would have gotten very ugly.

Oh, and I'd like to put in a shout out to the jerks who thought it might be funny to throw water balloons from a balcony at Bella Vita down on us while we were digging the nest. The one that bounced off my ribs and exploded in the sand next to me threw sand up under my right eyelid and I now have a scratched eyeball. And some people wonder why tolerance to tourists can be challenging at times.

Sorry I missed seeing you, Ash. We left just after the turtle re-entered the water. I, too, saw the dog and almost started down the walkover but then noted it was under control, finally. I don't move as swiftly as I once did, so I didn't go down on the beach.
Anytime you or any of the turtle people need access to BMB feel free to use our parking lot and walkover. There are almost always plenty of open spaces. Thanks for all you do and especially looking after this nest. I was worried when no one from the Sheriff's office showed up.
I didn't know if there was a turtle volunteer around or not. Once again, thanks.

 

[Tootie]

Was fortunate to witness the turtle laying eggs - was a guest at the Bella Vita - left yesterday - glad our family moved further east to Blue Mountain Beach - we enjoyed - from Gonzales, Louisiana. Got to see the eggs move to their new nest

 

[beachFool]

In that same vein, I was irritated at a group of people and a photographer yesterday wandering in the dunes and sea oats...and one person even attempting to pick a sea oat to hold in the photo..fortunately, someone stopped her before she tore it.

I can understand the tourists perhaps not realizing the gravity of what they are doing, although why they would want to walk all over the dune and step on the sea oats is beyond me, even if it was not a serious problem--but, assuming the photographer was local--she should have known better. It is often difficult to maintain a civil attitude, especially when it's met with a definite uncivil response.

I saw a local photographer pose the family by "Stay off the dunes"sign.

Usually I just tell the offendees that the owners spent a $100K rehabbing the dune.

 

[Andy A]

Buz, up the ante a bit. It cost Sea Bluff owners a total of approximately $570,000 to reconstruct the dune as it is now.

 

[sarawind]

I saw a local photographer pose the family by "Stay off the dunes"sign.

Usually I just tell the offendees that the owners spent a $100K rehabbing the dune.

Some visitors seem to leave their common sense, respect of property and pretty much most of their brains at home. The things I've seen. Once a family visiting next door sent their 5 children to play in the dunes. I told them to please not do that as it is a federal offense, hoping to scare them off. They just laughed and said, " we are on vacation".

 

[ASH]

Was fortunate to witness the turtle laying eggs - was a guest at the Bella Vita - left yesterday - glad our family moved further east to Blue Mountain Beach - we enjoyed - from Gonzales, Louisiana. Got to see the eggs move to their new nest

Then we would have met! You must be the family that stuck it out with us so late. We nearly excavated that whole beach looking for those eggs, didn't we? LOL!

 

[ASH]

Ash,

Apolgoy from Bella Vita, I am sure it was not an owner, my daughter-in-law said they have a number of renters on site this week. She said the group currently there are rather obnoxious and were asked to cool it by mgt. There are only (8) units approved to rent & they do not represent other BV owners. Thanks for protecting the turtle nest.

Tom

Not sure if it was renters or owners. One of the guys from there went up after the kids and ended up finding them. Teen kids bored to the point of mischief.
He had some sort of Mississippi badge that he used to scare them into thinking they'd just bombed federal officials and were about to do hard time. It was funny enough to take the edge back off. All healed up and no harm done.

 

[beachFool]

Buz, up the ante a bit. It cost Sea Bluff owners a total of approximately $570,000 to reconstruct the dune as it is now.

Copy that

 

[Tootie]

Then we would have met! You must be the family that stuck it out with us so late. We nearly excavated that whole beach looking for those eggs, didn't we? LOL!

Yea, we the family that stuck it out with you - thanks for letting us be there. Ya'll did a great job! Was sooooo much fun!