Here on Dewees Island, we are part of a stranding network for dead or injured animals that wash up on our shores. If you see a dead or injured sea turtle or dolphin, please call Gary or Lori to report a stranding. We will then notify DNR or NOAA to find out if they want to conduct a necropsy. Like CSI Dewees, they may ask us to piece together the information we have, and they may actually come collect the specimen to find out what happened. If you find a specimen with an orange x or stripe made with spray paint, it has already been entered into the database.
Today, we found a small (10 inches) dead sea turtle on the south beach. The first step was to establish that the turtle was actually dead, and rule out any sort of first aid. This turtle was well beyond first aid. Then, we had to determine what species it was. As a trained volunteer for the sea turtle stranding network, Gary keeps a kit with all sorts of measuring instruments and a clear protocol for entering information. Part of the kit includes a key for identifying turtles: by the number of scutes (shell segments), the shape of the carapace (shell), the size and shape of the beak and jaw, and the ratio of width to length.
Using that guide, we have determined that this is a Kemps-Ridley turtle. (We will allow that we are MOSTLY sure… but based on all the criteria we can find, we are comfortable with our identification.)
Kemp’s Ridley turtles are one of the most endangered turtles, party because they only nest on the beaches of Texas and Mexico. According to SCDNR,
The Kemp’s ridley turtle is one of the smallest sea turtles; it has an adult straight carapace length of approximately 65 cm (26 inches) and weighs less than 45 kg (99 pounds). Adults have an almost round carapace that is sometimes wider that it is long. The coloration changes significantly during development from the almost black hatchlings to the lighter, grey-olive carapace and cream-white or yellowish plastron of adults.
They don’t usually nest here, but they travel along our coasts in summer, sometimes (as in this case) falling victim to boat propeller strikes. They sometimes feed in salt marsh habitats. From SCDNR,
In 1992 and 2008, two Kemp’s ridley nests were laid in South Carolina. This species represents the second most common turtle to strand on our coast. They feed on fast swimming crabs (i.e. the blue crab) and are sometimes caught by hook and line fishermen. Recent increases in Kemp’s ridley turtle strandings could also be due to an increasing population.
If you find a stranded animal, give Gary or Lori a call to be sure that it has been called in to the network of citizen scientist volunteers so we can learn more about events near shore and offshore that affect the marine species we share our waters with. If you find one with orange paint, it has already been registered and is waiting either for burial or the appropriate conservation scientists to conduct an investigation.
http://www.dnr.sc.gov/seaturtle/lk.htm
