We’ve been getting a number of emails once again regarding Dylan’s tracking so I thought it best to write a BLOG! Sometimes it’s a waiting game with the transmissions…BE PATIENT and don’t always assume the worst! In certain areas the signals can be jammed (i.e. Canaveral), the satellite orbits might be off, the seas could be very rough not allowing signals to be transmitted, or the turtle might be spending a lot of time underwater, not allowing us to get very good signals.
Just as Bev’s signal was ‘lost’ for a while, but started transmitting again recently. Just as Spitfire and Vida’s signals were ‘lost’ for a time (coincidentally, the same time! but then again they were in the same ‘area’ as one another…), but again came back. Dylan’s signal loss may be temporarily. Her most recent ‘hit’ was actually on 8/17, albeit a low-class ‘hit’. A low-class ‘hit’ means the accuracy of the indicated location is not very good and thus is not plotted on the map. Her ‘hits’ prior to that, on 8/7 and 8/8, suggested that she was spending a LOT of time underwater, possibly resulting in bad satellite timing. Also, looking at her location, she IS near Canaveral….
We will just have to wait patiently and see what happens, however I would caution you to assume that ’something has happened to her’. Most likely it a transmitter/transmission/satellite problem rather than a problem with the turtle.
I hope this explanation helps! We’ll keep an eye on her tracking and see what happens!
Thank you for your concern and continued support of the Georgia Sea Turtle Center!
Sincerely,
Stefanie Ouellette
Education and Field Coordinator
September 8th, 2008 at 7:48 pm |
Glad to see Dylan transmitting again!
May 7th, 2010 at 9:24 pm |
Just wondered about Dylan. I can’t seem to find any info. I heard about the oil in the Gulf and wondered if you thought Dylan was still out there somewhere.
May 11th, 2010 at 8:31 am |
Dear Penny,
Unfortunately, Dylan stopped transmitting in May 2009. More than likely it was a problem with the transmitter (broken antennae, dead battery, dislodged unit, etc.) rather that with the turtle. In addition, transmitter battery life only lasts so long. Turtles travel great distances throughout their lives and although her last location was in the Gulf, we have no way of knowing if she is still there and therefore cannot speculate on any affect the oil spill may have on her. The only thing we can say is that the oil spill will have a devastating affect on that entire ecosystem and the species living there.
Any information we have is posted on our website under OUR PATIENTS, FORMER PATIENTS and on our BLOG (Keyword: Dylan). You can also view her complete tracking map on http://www.seaturtle.org (see our LINKS page on our website for a direct link to her page on seaturtle.org).