Author: Jenn Manes

Hello everyone, and happy Tuesday. Today we’re talking turtles!

We are in the midst of sea turtle nesting season here on St. John, so today I thought I’d share a quick little update for you all. As of last week, there have been 17 Hawksbill sea turtle nests found and four Green sea turtle nests found. In comparison, we had a total of 21 Hawksbill, two green, and two leatherback sea turtle nests last season. So as you can see, we’re having a great season so far!

Sea turtles lay eggs on beaches located around St. John. The eggs take roughly 55 to 70 days to hatch, according to the Virgin Islands National Park. Warmer nests typically produce more females, while cooler nexts typically produce more males. Pretty interesting!

When the hatchlings emerge from their nests, they make a mad dash for the ocean. This is a very vulnerable time for the babies, as there are predators both on land and in the sea that can eat them along the way. They can also become disoriented if there is artificial light in the area.

We’re fortunate here on St. John to have Turtle Patrol volunteers. Volunteers monitor an assigned beach once or twice a week from July through November. Volunteers work to identify beaches that provide safe nesting areas for females, as well as determine the number of nests and number of turtles nesting on St. John. They also mitigate any threats to nesting females and hatchlings.

One of the more rewarding parts of being a sea turtle volunteer is having the ability to watch the hatchings scurry to the ocean. For example, volunteers and residents were treated to an excavation on Trunk Bay last month. During that particular excavation, 126 hatchings made it out of the nest and into the ocean. Amazing!

So what should you do if you come across turtle tracks or nesting activity? Please email vinpturtles@gmail.com or call (760) 470-8995. Please do not disturb or walk in the area, and take pictures to share with the turtle team.

If you see a turtle in distress, please contact the STAR network at (340) 690-0474. And if you see someone mistreating a turtle, please contact the National Park at (866) 995-8467.

Want to learn more about St. John? Take an island tour with us!

Learn more here –> www.explorestj.com/tour Full & half days available. Rated “Excellent” on TripAdvisor.

Follow Explore STJ on Social Media

–> www.facebook.com/explorestj

–> www.instagram.com/explorestj

Halloween is right around the corner, and here is a list of what’s happening this year for Halloween on St. John.

For the Kids

• Saturday, October 28th – Halloween Party at Dazey Drive In: This event will feature a spooky storytime with Banen at 4 p.m. All children wearing costumes can purchase a shaved ice for just $5 all day.
• Tuesday, October 31st – Mongoose Junction: Mongoose is holding its annual trick-or-treating event from 4 p.m. to 6 p.m. Children can go door-to-door and trick-or-treat at a variety of businesses throughout the complex. Candy and books will be handed out.
• Tuesday, October 31st – Trunk or Treat: The annual St. John Trunk or Treat will start at 4:30 p.m. on Halloween. It’s being held in the gravel lot in Cruz Bay, and all children must be accompanied by an adult. Children are encouraged to come in costume, and they can trick or treat at a variety of vehicles decorated for Halloween. If you are interested in decorating your vehicle, please contact Dana Neil at dana.neil@yahoo.com. Donated candy is also welcome. This event typically attracts more than 100 children, so the more donations, the better.

For the Adults

• Monday, October 30th – The Tap Room – The Tap Room is holding its annual Halloween bash and costume contest from 8 p.m. until midnight. Prizes will be awarded for the best costumes.
• Tuesday, October 31st – Skinny Legs: Skinny’s is reopening for the season with its annual Halloween Bash. Mother Goat is scheduled to play at 7 p.m. and the costume contest happens at 9 p.m. Prizes will be awarded for the best costumes.
• Tuesday, October 31st – Drink: Drink is also reopening for the season on Halloween. The party happens from 8 p.m. until midnight, and prizes will be awarded for the best two costumes. First place wins a $150 gift card, and second place receives a $75 gift card.
• Tuesday, October 31st – The Beach Bar: The Beach Bar is getting into the Halloween game again this year with a costume contest and Tito’s drink specials all day. Judging will take place at 8 p.m. The winner will receive $100 in cash, plus a $100 gift certificate to The Beach Bar.
• Tuesday, October 31st – Upstairs Bar: SCARYoke! Beginning at 9 p.m., Upstairs will have a special karaoke session. Costumes are encouraged!

Parrot Club is also planning a Halloween party. I will share those details once they are released.

Want to learn more about St. John? Take an island tour with us!

Learn more here –> www.explorestj.com/tour Full & half days available. Rated “Excellent” on TripAdvisor.

Follow Explore STJ on Social Media

–> www.facebook.com/explorestj

–> www.instagram.com/explorestj

Meet my new friend Alana.

Hello everyone, and happy Wednesday! Who needs a little pick-me-up today?

I had the privilege of taking a precocious eight-year-old named Alana on an island tour last month. Alana and her parents were staying at the Westin for a few days after a quick little stay over at the Ritz on St. Thomas. While Alana’s parents took a dip in the ocean, Alana and I chatted on the beach and she told me about a YouTube Channel she created. The channel – Audacious Adventures with Alana – highlights her and her family’s travels around the country. She told me that she was creating a video about her trip to the US Virgin Islands, and I promised I would share it with all of you. 🙂

So please, if you have about four minutes today, check out this quick video that Alana created about her September vacation to St. John. The St. John portion of the video starts around one minute and 56 seconds.

Want to see more of Alana’s videos or simply want to make an eight-year-old smile? You can click the Subscribe button on her page. Click here to visit Alana’s YouTube Channel.

Want to learn more about St. John? Take an island tour with us!

Learn more here –> www.explorestj.com/tour Full & half days available. Rated “Excellent” on TripAdvisor.

Follow Explore STJ on Social Media

–> www.facebook.com/explorestj

–> www.instagram.com/explorestj