Sea Turtles at Hilton Head Island Weather Tropical Storm Debby
Hilton Head Island, SC – In nature, few things are as challenging as the journey of a newborn sea turtle from its nest to the ocean. It’s a perilous journey fraught with dangers right from the start, and Tropical Storm Debby recently added natural obstacles to the already endangered sea turtles navigating this path in Hilton Head Island.
Sea Turtle Nesting Impacted
Hilton Head Island recorded a lower-than-normal count of 195 sea turtle nests for the ongoing season before the storm hit. Concerns were naturally raised about the potential impact of Tropical Storm Debby on the already endangered species and the condition of their nests.
Storm’s Effect on Sea Turtles
Only one sea turtle nest was reported lost during the storm, according to Amber Kuehn of the Sea Turtle Patrol Hilton Head Island, but she admits that the storm’s long-term effects could pose problems for the island’s smallest inhabitants.
“When we had ten inches of rain the beach can’t percolate that much water,” said Amber Kuehn. “It starts with standing water. If there is standing water in the nest, it could be deadly. Hatchlings need a dry environment. There’s a gas exchange in the egg chamber. So, if water inundates the nest, when we go in to count and inventory in the near future, we may see some major losses on the beach.”
Nature’s Course, Unmanageable
Regrettably, such natural occurrences can’t be prevented. “There’s no way to prevent it. It’s nature and it would have happened to them regardless. We do our best to mark the nests to control human impact. But nature, you just can’t manage that so well,” explains Amber.
Hope for The Remaining Season
The sea turtle nesting season extends through September and Amber remains hopeful for the survival of the remaining nests. Out of the initial 195 nests, 74 have already hatched with 120 nests still out there. The hope is strong for these hatchlings to successfully reach the ocean. Those interested in learning more about sea turtles can visit the Sea Turtle Patrol Hilton Head Island website.
Source: HERE News Network
Author: HERE News
