Padre Island National Seashore turtle program facing cuts

THERE YOU CAN POSTVIDEOS....PHOTOS...EVENQUESTIONS FOR OUR METEOROLOGISTSTO ANSWER!HAPPENING SATURDAY.

THE FIRSTOF SEVEN SCHEDULED RELEASES OFENDANGERED KEMP’S RIDLEYHATCHLINGS AT THE PADRE ISLANDNATIONAL SEASHORE.IT’S ALWAYS A GREAT EVENT FORLOCAL FAMILIES, AND IT’S A MAJORTOURIST ATTRACTION FOR THECOASTAL BEND.

BUT THIS YEAR - IFYOU DON’T HAVE A SEASON PASS -YOU’LL HAVE TO SHELL OUT SOMECASH - AND *THAT - IS A FIRST.{***GRAPHIC FROM ERICSTILLSTORE**}THE TEN-DOLLAR ADMISSION FEE -JUST ONE OF THE CHANGES ORRECOMMENDATIONS FOR CUTBACKS -ALL RESULTING FROM A NATIONALPARKS SERVICE REVIEW- OF THE SEATURTLE SCIENCE AND RECOVERYPROGRAM.

AND HERE ARE SOMEOTHERS:DISCONTINUING WORK WITH GREENAND LOGGERHEAD TURTLES -RESTRICT KEMP’S RIDLEYACTIVITIES TO THE BOUNDARIES OFTHE PARK - REDUCE THE NUMBER OFNEST RELOCATIONS, THE NUMBER OFHATCHLING RELEASES AND EMPLOYEEOVERTIME.

FINALLY, CLOSE THEBEACHES TO MOTOR VEHICLE TRAFFICDURING NESTING SEASON.{***ON CAM TAG**}NO DRIVING ON THE PARKSSERVICE BEACHES?

THAT IDEA COULDHAVE A LOT OF NEGATIVE EFFECTS{***IN DEPTH ANIMATION**}AND HERE’S OUR MATT STEVENSTONIGHT - IN DEPTH.{***SOT FULL***I’m all for stuff that makessense."TO TYLER MILLERSTROM, CUTTINGTHE TURTLE RECOVERY PROGRAM’SBUDGET MAKES ABOUT AS MUCH SENSEAS FISHING WITHOUT BAIT.{***SOT FULL**}"Sun should be good.

Weather’sgonna be good.

Summertimefishing guys."ON HIS POPULAR FACEBOOK REPORT,HE TALKS ABOUT SURF FISHING ALOT, AND HIS FAVORITE PLACE ISPADRE ISLAND NATIONAL SEACHORE,KNOWN AS PINS.{***SOT FULL**}"I have options to fisheverywhere.

I choose to fishPINS.

Because it’s secluded.You’re alone.

You can get awayfrom people.

And the fishing’sfantastic."{***SOT FULL**}"Good morning mates.

Here wego.

Gonna take a trip down theseashore."FISHING EXPERT NICK MEYER MIGHTBE THE BEST AMBASSADOR OF ALLFOR PINS.{***SOT FULL**}"There he is.

He’s rightclose."HIS THOUSANDS OF SOCIAL MEDIAFOLLOWERS CAN’T GET ENOUGH OFWATCHING HIM PULL FISH FROM THESHALLOW WATERS ALONG 70 MILES OFSANDY BEACH.

AND MANY OF THOSEFOLLOWERS USE THEIR VACATIONS TODO THIS THEMSELVES.MILLERSTROM AND MEYER ARE BOTHPUSHING A PETITION TO PRESSURETHE NATIONAL PARKS SERVICE TOLEAVE THE TURTLE PROGRAM ALONE.THEY’RE ESPECIALLY CONCERNEDTHAT NEW PLANS CALL FOR PINSBEACHES TO CLOSE TO MOTORVEHICLES DURING THE NESTINGSEASON-APRIL THROUGH JULY.{***SOT FULL**}"SO IT’S NOT JUST ABOUT TURTLES.It’s not just about the turtles.No."{***SOT FULL**}"It’s very deep-rooted.

Andit’s all about the money, in myopinion."LONGTIME VOLUNTEER JAN ROBERSONSAYS POLITICS WILL SOON MAKE DRDONNA SHAVER’S TURTLE LAB ASENDANGERED AS THE KEMP’S RIDLEYSPECIES IT’S DESIGNED TO SAVE.{***SOT FULL**}"Unfortunately the Kemps, theynest in the daytime which is notthe problem.

Vehicles are notthe problem.

Predators are theproblem.

Kemps are slow and lazyand they can maybe decide, ’okayI can come up the beach and Ican nest right here.

Well, thetide can get them and wash outthe eggs."ROBERSON SAYS IF THE TIDEDOESN’T GET THE EGGS, THENCOYOTES, RED FIRE ANTS, GHOSTCRABS OR EVEN FERAL PIGS WILL.{***SOT FULL**}"I don’t see them surviving ifthey’re left out here to thenature."{***SOT FULL**}"These go onto the tracks.

Andthen we’ll put one of theseright by the actual nest."FOR NOW, A BIG PART OF ERICASURTLE’S JOB WITH THE PARKSSERVICE IS PATROLLING THEBEACHES