Delaware marine officials move sea turtle eggs to safer place

Marine Education Research and Rehabilitation Institute officials in Delaware were excited to learn a sea turtles had lain her eggs at Cape Henlopen State Park.

But the turtle, believed to be the first to have her nesting recording in the state, left the eggs in the high tide zone. So officials got to work yesterday, protecting the original nest from beach-goers, building a new nest and relocating the eggs.

The Wilmington News Journal reports once permission from the U.S. Fish & Wildlife Service’s Northeast Endangered Species Coordinator was secured, the local marine team recreated the turtle’s nest, but on higher ground. The eggs were placed in the same position into a new 28-inch deep hole, which will be protected with mesh fencing to keep predators out but still leave the baby turtles space to slip out and head back to the water.