(CMR) The Department of Environment said in preparation for Hurricane Ian, its Turtle Team carried out 37 turtle nest excavations, 14 nest relocations and rescued more than 1000 sea turtle hatchlings from nests that were due to hatch during the storm.
When hatchlings hatch from their eggs, they take a few days to climb to the surface of the sand. If the nest is washed over by waves during this time, the hatchlings will become trapped and drown.
“By removing these hatchlings early, we were able to release them to sea while their bodies were strongest for swimming offshore before the storm arrived,” the DoE said.
The Department said the impact the storm has had on the remaining nests around the 3 islands is currently unknown and will be assessed in the coming days.
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