Caswell Beach is happy to report that after many days with a high incidence of false crawls, there are new nests to report. Our beach supporters have really come through in keeping us up-to-date on turtle activity and observing safe distancing and no light practices. We are grateful for the support and very happy to see results from our outreach, education, online posts and signage – especially with new visitors!
Nest #36 was laid in a safe location. We received a call on our Sea Turtle Hotline last night after the fireworks about a nesting mama.
The beach was dark and deserted and it was low tide. Mama crawled to a perfect area and did her thing! We were able to get her measurements and check for a Flipper Tag (none found). Her carapace was 106cm/42″ long from notch to tip and 103.5cm/40.5″ from notch to notch. Her widest point was 90cm/35.5″ wide. (As a reminder, we gather this data for every turtle we are called about to support the expanding research efforts for sea turtle protection, which is just one reason why it is so important to report a turtle sighting to us.)
The previous evening, we also received a Sea Turtle Hotline call, and by the time we arrived Mama had dug her chamber and was dropping her eggs. She crawled up as far as she could on the beach, right up against an eroding dune cliff. The dune above her was falling as she was covering up the eggsI She really struggled getting out of her body pit, but eventually made her way back to the ocean safely.
Her carapace was 42″/106.6 cm long from the top notch to her bottom tip. She was 36″/91.4 cm at the widest part across. Her crawl width was 45″/114.3 cm. Her head was HUGE!
From a safe distance (+20 ft), we were able to capture images using Night Sight mode to share with you.
We are grateful that our callers recently have reported to us quickly, and respectfully kept their distance so the mamas could nest in peace! This helps to increase our success with protecting sea turtles and helping to increase their population.
False Crawls, Erosion
As mentioned above, many beaches are seeing an increase in False Crawls this season. In some cases, False Crawl rates are surpassing 60% of beach crawls. For Caswell Beach, unfortunately our false crawl count has exceeded our nest count. 10 False Crawls over two days may actually be a record. Ideally these would all be nests, not attempted and abandoned efforts to nest. One factor assumed to be driving this is an increase in beach visitors and social media. Please share information from Caswell Beach Turtle Watch to help inform your neighbors!
Additionally, the huge impact of beach erosion from recent storms, along with continued battering from King and High Tides have really compromised the beach and dunes. In many stretches of beach, there simply is no beach. Escarpments and dune cliffs are no match for even the most determined turtle mama. It’s forcing sea turtle mamas that do attempt to lay eggs to choose unsafe areas, high dune/grassy areas, or even areas closer to boardwalks and homes.
At Caswell Beach in recent weeks, we have seen as many as 6 false crawls in a single night. We are hoping these mamas make a return attempt and are not having to drop their eggs in the ocean.
Sea Turtle Guidelines
As we meet new visitors on the beach each season, we are reminded there is alot to learn and know about sea turtles. Many are just learning about sea turtles for the first time and are not aware of what to do if they interact with a turtle or the protection laws governing them. It’s a simple message to share, and you can always refer visitors to the signs at our beaches. If you see any turtle, or someone interacting with a turtle or nest, PLEASE call our Sea Turtle Hotline. No Lights, No Cameras, stay 20 ft. away, and make sure others do the same. You just may be saving 120 baby sea turtles!
**This conservation work for protected sea turtles on Caswell Beach is authorized by the NC Wildlife Resources Commission (ES Permit 25ST03).
Please consider donating to our efforts as we build up our necessary resources for the season.
You can donate at Caswell Beach Turtle Watch Donations.