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Matagorda Isle patrol
By CHARLYN FINN
Matagorda Island is one of the nesting areas for the endangered Kemp’s ridley sea turtles.
Eight nests, to the delight of a group called the Friends of the Aransas and Matagorda Island National Wildlife Refuge, were found in 2007 on Matagorda Island.
The mammoth sea turtles returned to their Matagorda Island nesting place in 2005, and thanks to FAMI, the population continues to grow there as well as many sites in the Gulf of Mexico.
To preserve this endangered species, according to Marianne Pietras, the volunteers for FAMI are sponsoring a fund raising effort for the Matagorda Island Turtle Patrol Program.
“The most endangered sea turtle in the world comes ashore at Matagorda Island during nesting season to lay their eggs,” said Pietras. “Every season for the last five years trained volunteers, working in partnership with the U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service, patrol this barrier island searching for turtles and turtle nests.”
Pietras, a volunteer with FAMI, said her organization works to assist the Aransas and Matagorda Island National Wildlife Refuge. It is the fond hope of FAMI to establish a viable population on the island. For the last five years volunteers trained as turtle nesting first responders patrolled Matagorda Island searching for turtles and nests.
“We have been expanding the program each year and as such, our resource requirements have increased,” Pietras said.”
To date, according to Pietras, 15 nests and 1,445 eggs have been found. This past season, 677 little hatchlings from Matagorda Island eggs were released back into the Gulf of Mexico.
“The MITP Programs continues to grow and as it does, additional equipment is needed,” said Pietras. She said FAMI is holding a “Macy’s Shop for a Cause program on line. Coupons for shopping discounts are sold online at Macys.com. Also, coupons are being sold and contributions accepted at the Aransas Wildlife Refuge FAMI book store and at the Texas Zoo in Victoria.
Kemp’s ridley turtles nest on the Texas coast between April and mid-July. Patrols are conducted during daylight hours from about 6:30 a.m. until 6 p.m.
The National Park Service conducts a program to detect, study and protect the nesting turtles. The program is made possible by funds from the federal government, Texas Parks and Wildlife Department and a variety of partners and donors.
The Gulf of Mexico is the home of seven sea turtle species including the leatherback, hawksbill, green, loggerhead and Kemp’s ridley. The Kemp’s ridley is the most endangered species of sea turtles. Its principal nesting area is a 16-mile stretch of beach at Playa de Rancho Nuevo, Tamaulipas, Mexico. In 1947 40,000 Kemp’s ridleys nested on a single day. Today, fewer than 5,000 nest in a year.
To save the turtles the U.S. government and the Republic of Mexico jointly work to re-establish a nesting beach at Padre Island National Seashore. Sporadic nesting had already been detected.
In 2007, 73 nests were found at the Padre Island National Seashore, 17 on South Padre Island, eight on Padre Island north of PAIS, one on Bolivar Peninsula, seven on Galveston Island, two on Surfside Beach, one on Bryan Beach, four on Matagorda Peninsula, eight on Matagorda Island, four on Mustang Island and three on Boca Chica Beach for a total of 128 nests.
For more information contact Cindi Barrett, secretary of FAMI at cindibarre@aol.com.
Eight nests, to the delight of a group called the Friends of the Aransas and Matagorda Island National Wildlife Refuge, were found in 2007 on Matagorda Island.
The mammoth sea turtles returned to their Matagorda Island nesting place in 2005, and thanks to FAMI, the population continues to grow there as well as many sites in the Gulf of Mexico.
To preserve this endangered species, according to Marianne Pietras, the volunteers for FAMI are sponsoring a fund raising effort for the Matagorda Island Turtle Patrol Program.
“The most endangered sea turtle in the world comes ashore at Matagorda Island during nesting season to lay their eggs,” said Pietras. “Every season for the last five years trained volunteers, working in partnership with the U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service, patrol this barrier island searching for turtles and turtle nests.”
Pietras, a volunteer with FAMI, said her organization works to assist the Aransas and Matagorda Island National Wildlife Refuge. It is the fond hope of FAMI to establish a viable population on the island. For the last five years volunteers trained as turtle nesting first responders patrolled Matagorda Island searching for turtles and nests.
“We have been expanding the program each year and as such, our resource requirements have increased,” Pietras said.”
To date, according to Pietras, 15 nests and 1,445 eggs have been found. This past season, 677 little hatchlings from Matagorda Island eggs were released back into the Gulf of Mexico.
“The MITP Programs continues to grow and as it does, additional equipment is needed,” said Pietras. She said FAMI is holding a “Macy’s Shop for a Cause program on line. Coupons for shopping discounts are sold online at Macys.com. Also, coupons are being sold and contributions accepted at the Aransas Wildlife Refuge FAMI book store and at the Texas Zoo in Victoria.
Kemp’s ridley turtles nest on the Texas coast between April and mid-July. Patrols are conducted during daylight hours from about 6:30 a.m. until 6 p.m.
The National Park Service conducts a program to detect, study and protect the nesting turtles. The program is made possible by funds from the federal government, Texas Parks and Wildlife Department and a variety of partners and donors.
The Gulf of Mexico is the home of seven sea turtle species including the leatherback, hawksbill, green, loggerhead and Kemp’s ridley. The Kemp’s ridley is the most endangered species of sea turtles. Its principal nesting area is a 16-mile stretch of beach at Playa de Rancho Nuevo, Tamaulipas, Mexico. In 1947 40,000 Kemp’s ridleys nested on a single day. Today, fewer than 5,000 nest in a year.
To save the turtles the U.S. government and the Republic of Mexico jointly work to re-establish a nesting beach at Padre Island National Seashore. Sporadic nesting had already been detected.
In 2007, 73 nests were found at the Padre Island National Seashore, 17 on South Padre Island, eight on Padre Island north of PAIS, one on Bolivar Peninsula, seven on Galveston Island, two on Surfside Beach, one on Bryan Beach, four on Matagorda Peninsula, eight on Matagorda Island, four on Mustang Island and three on Boca Chica Beach for a total of 128 nests.
For more information contact Cindi Barrett, secretary of FAMI at cindibarre@aol.com.
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