Written by, MOLLY MURRAY, The News Journal, 12/6/11- LEWES - Having survived two tropical storms and a cold snap, three baby sea turtles made history late Sunday when they hatched from their nomadic nests in Lewes.
The green turtle hatchlings are from the first documented sea turtle nest in Delaware. The species is common in tropical waters, such as those off the coast of Florida and the Caribbean, but is extremely rare this far north.
As early as this morning, the young hatchlings and the remaining eggs will begin the next leg of their journey. They will be driven to North Carolina for eventual release into the warm waters of the Gulf Stream, said Suzanne Thurman, executive director of the MERR Institute, Delaware's marine rescue organization.
Sand was stirring in the three nest bins on Monday, a sign that more may hatch. The successful hatching was the result of a monumental effort for eggs at the outer limits of viability.
"I did not give up hope for one second," Thurman said. "This is just such a hopeful story. I could not be one bit happier."
Too often, MERR marine animal rescues begin with a tragedy: a dead whale, sick seals or the remains of a sea turtle
This epic began in mid-August, when a female green turtle made her way onto the beach at Herring Point, dug a kidney-shaped hole in the sand and laid 194 ivory-colored eggs, each bigger than a ping pong ball. At dawn, she made her way back to the ocean.
Green sea turtles reach a maximum size of about 4 feet and a weight of 440 pounds, according to the U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service. They are believed to reach sexual maturity between 20 and 50 years of age.
It is believed to be the first recorded sea turtle nesting in Delaware, Thurman said. Initially, they thought the turtle was a loggerhead but realized after reviewing photographs that it was a green turtle.
The nest was discovered by Cape Henlopen Park Ranger Curtis Reynolds as he was doing a routine patrol along the beach at Herring Point early one morning.
For the next several hours, Betts kept people away from the turtle.
"I've seen lots of dead turtles and rescues," he said. "But this was the first I've ever seen laying eggs."
Early morning surfers and other folks were beginning to show up just as she began moving back toward the ocean, he said.
The nest was marked with white PVC pipe and yellow caution tape.
Thurman got in contact with officials from the U.S. Fish & Wildlife Service.
The eggs had been deposited in the high tide zone, an area vulnerable to damage from surf and waves. It took special permission to move the nest.
At the time, Thurman said: "The reality is ... there are a lot of obstacles."
U.S. Fish & Wildlife Service's Northeast Endangered Species officials authorized the movement of the eggs.
The next obstacle came with Hurricane Irene and Tropical Storm Lee. Both storms deposited sand on top of the sea turtle nest, and volunteers had to remove the sand by hand.
Then in October, a cold snap hit the area. Typically, temperatures below 78 degrees interrupt incubation of the eggs, said Edna Stetzer, a biologist with the state Department of Natural Resources and Environmental Control.
Stetzer got a temperature monitor from a colleague in North Carolina, placed it in the sand recently and took a reading of 66 degrees.
"It was well below what optimum was," she said.
So state officials worked with the MERR Institute, Delaware's marine mammal stranding organization, U.S. Fish & Wildlife Service and University of Delaware scientists to move the nest a second time, to a climate-controlled lab at UD's College of Earth, Ocean and Environment in Lewes.
Typically, it takes about 60 days for sea turtle eggs to hatch. Based on the day the eggs were laid, that would have been about Oct. 18.
It's been weeks since the due date, but there are lots of factors at play, including the lunar cycle. "We want to simulate, as much as possible, the natural environment," said Rob Rector, a spokesman for MERR.
Thurman said they are awaiting permits to move the hatchlings and the eggs to the Pine Knoll State Aquarium in North Carolina. There, a scientist familiar with sea turtles will assess their condition and determine whether they are healthy enough to be released, Thurman said.
The idea is they won't expend energy trying to swim to the warmer ocean waters, she said.
Thurman said the hatchlings, which haven't yet grown into their oversized flippers, are "just beautiful."
The green turtle hatchlings are from the first documented sea turtle nest in Delaware. The species is common in tropical waters, such as those off the coast of Florida and the Caribbean, but is extremely rare this far north.
As early as this morning, the young hatchlings and the remaining eggs will begin the next leg of their journey. They will be driven to North Carolina for eventual release into the warm waters of the Gulf Stream, said Suzanne Thurman, executive director of the MERR Institute, Delaware's marine rescue organization.
Sand was stirring in the three nest bins on Monday, a sign that more may hatch. The successful hatching was the result of a monumental effort for eggs at the outer limits of viability.
"I did not give up hope for one second," Thurman said. "This is just such a hopeful story. I could not be one bit happier."
Too often, MERR marine animal rescues begin with a tragedy: a dead whale, sick seals or the remains of a sea turtle
This epic began in mid-August, when a female green turtle made her way onto the beach at Herring Point, dug a kidney-shaped hole in the sand and laid 194 ivory-colored eggs, each bigger than a ping pong ball. At dawn, she made her way back to the ocean.
Green sea turtles reach a maximum size of about 4 feet and a weight of 440 pounds, according to the U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service. They are believed to reach sexual maturity between 20 and 50 years of age.
It is believed to be the first recorded sea turtle nesting in Delaware, Thurman said. Initially, they thought the turtle was a loggerhead but realized after reviewing photographs that it was a green turtle.
The nest was discovered by Cape Henlopen Park Ranger Curtis Reynolds as he was doing a routine patrol along the beach at Herring Point early one morning.
For the next several hours, Betts kept people away from the turtle.
"I've seen lots of dead turtles and rescues," he said. "But this was the first I've ever seen laying eggs."
Early morning surfers and other folks were beginning to show up just as she began moving back toward the ocean, he said.
The nest was marked with white PVC pipe and yellow caution tape.
Thurman got in contact with officials from the U.S. Fish & Wildlife Service.
The eggs had been deposited in the high tide zone, an area vulnerable to damage from surf and waves. It took special permission to move the nest.
At the time, Thurman said: "The reality is ... there are a lot of obstacles."
U.S. Fish & Wildlife Service's Northeast Endangered Species officials authorized the movement of the eggs.
The next obstacle came with Hurricane Irene and Tropical Storm Lee. Both storms deposited sand on top of the sea turtle nest, and volunteers had to remove the sand by hand.
Then in October, a cold snap hit the area. Typically, temperatures below 78 degrees interrupt incubation of the eggs, said Edna Stetzer, a biologist with the state Department of Natural Resources and Environmental Control.
Stetzer got a temperature monitor from a colleague in North Carolina, placed it in the sand recently and took a reading of 66 degrees.
"It was well below what optimum was," she said.
So state officials worked with the MERR Institute, Delaware's marine mammal stranding organization, U.S. Fish & Wildlife Service and University of Delaware scientists to move the nest a second time, to a climate-controlled lab at UD's College of Earth, Ocean and Environment in Lewes.
Typically, it takes about 60 days for sea turtle eggs to hatch. Based on the day the eggs were laid, that would have been about Oct. 18.
It's been weeks since the due date, but there are lots of factors at play, including the lunar cycle. "We want to simulate, as much as possible, the natural environment," said Rob Rector, a spokesman for MERR.
Thurman said they are awaiting permits to move the hatchlings and the eggs to the Pine Knoll State Aquarium in North Carolina. There, a scientist familiar with sea turtles will assess their condition and determine whether they are healthy enough to be released, Thurman said.
The idea is they won't expend energy trying to swim to the warmer ocean waters, she said.
Thurman said the hatchlings, which haven't yet grown into their oversized flippers, are "just beautiful."
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