Monday June 23rd - Stranded/Deceased adult Kemp's Ridley Sea Turtle

 Along with a False Crawl this morning on Waties Island, Kim and myself were called out to the island to handle a deceased sea turtle.  The carcass was located between Markers 1 and 2 - very close to Marker 2, and the beach access road.  It was tricky to id the species of sea turtle since the carcass was missing all of its "outside the shell" body parts, no head, no flippers.  Checking our sea turtle diagram and matching up the scutes, it was determined to be a Kemp's Ridley sea turtle.  Poor thing, hoping it was not a nesting mother.  The carcass was of a Kemp's Ridley sea turtle who was missing its head, and all four flippers.  There was no evidence of a boat strike on its shell - both the carapace(top shell) nor its plastron(shell covering the belly).  

We gathered the necessary measurements and information required by SCDNR. 

Many thanks to the Monday Volunteers for their assistance in this unsavory 

If you are uncomfortable about looking at pictures of deceased animals, Stop - The pictures may be distressing to you.


Text and pictures by Leslie

Waties Island performs research and management activities regarding sea turtle conservation in accordance with SCDNR Permit Number MTP500.