When island owner Hart came across a dead sea turtle on the beach, she called Gary, the island’s turtle team director. This is exactly the right thing to do; Gary and Lori are part of a trained group of volunteers trained in sea wildlife strandings. If a marine mammal or turtle is found alive, they will assist with the rescue. If an animal is found dead, they will gather data and see if they can determine the causes of mortality. The first step is identification. Since this turtle had neither flippers nor head, it was harder to identify. Gary and Lori counted scutes and consulted the DNR handbook. I got a chance to weigh in as well, and we were all in agreement that this was a green sea turtle. We assume the cause of death was a boat strike; there was a clear propeller gash through the carapace. Lori and Gary measured the turtle, parts of the shell, and the gash, and sent the data to SCDNR. The remains were buried once the data was collected.

Here’s our island information about what to do if you encounter dead or injured wildlife.