Holes on the Beaches

[LOCAL 32550]

Kurt
I love the backhoe idea.
But I say let me have a small bulldozer and I'll fill in the holes!!!
How about the guy that rakes the beach you would think the TDC wants the beaches nice for the tourists That they could get the guy that rakes the beach to rake our beaches??
The turtles would love it too!!!!

 

[Kurt]

Raking beaches is bad. Seaweed and other flotsam help accretion of sand.

 

[ASH]

I am on the beach at sunset checking on several turtle nests nearing their departure date and I actually carry a rake with me. I have had several people ask me what I am doing with a rake and I tell them I'm going after clams. Gets some sideways glances. I use the rake to fill holes, bury ghost crabs too close to nests and smooth out tracks South of nests. Stuff that wasn't on the beach 10,000 years ago.

 

[Gidget]

I know this may seem like an obvious question, but tell me about the holes and the turtles - I don't dig holes, but I want to educate others as to why it isn't a good idea.

Is it the fact that they get in and can't get out?

Thanks for helping
G

 

[scooterbug44]

Little baby turtles have a hard job getting to the water and holes/tire treads/tents etc. make it even harder. They have to use their little newborn flippers to push themselves along, so uneven sand and holes are obstacles.

Holes are also a safety hazard for humans who can twist an ankle, knee, fall etc.

 

[tistheseason]

My kids love to go to the beach at sunset to "save the turtles" by filling in everyone elses holes! They get particularly active with it when I say it's time to go. It's hard to enforce bedtime when they are pleading "but what about the baby turtles?"

 

[Gidget]

My kids love to go to the beach at sunset to "save the turtles" by filling in everyone elses holes! They get particularly active with it when I say it's time to go. It's hard to enforce bedtime when they are pleading "but what about the baby turtles?"

That is so sweet!! You know, that would make a WONDERFUL children's book. You should seriously consider getting with an illustrator and writing it Or use actual photographs.

Thanks for sharing and thanks scooter for the explanation. I thought that it might have more to do with the babies than with the adults. Now I know.

I appreciate your patience with newbie questions.

G

 

[Rita]

My kids love to go to the beach at sunset to "save the turtles" by filling in everyone elses holes! They get particularly active with it when I say it's time to go. It's hard to enforce bedtime when they are pleading "but what about the baby turtles?"

.
...I've gotta remember this. "Fill a hole. Save a turtle. "


.

 

[ASH]

I know this may seem like an obvious question, but tell me about the holes and the turtles - I don't dig holes, but I want to educate others as to why it isn't a good idea.

Is it the fact that they get in and can't get out?

Thanks for helping
G

Adult turtles needing to nest sometimes must navigate things left out on the beach, including holes.
They basically have four flipper drive, but they do not have reverse. Should they come up on a hole, they fall in and if they can't climb out the other end, they are stranded until people come along to help.

Being stuck in a hole exposes them to varmints cruising beaches at night. About a week ago, two or three coyotes dug up a nest near Gulf Trace. I have been seeing coyote tracks and fox nearly every time I walk and that means four times a week. They are out there.