With 427 nests in the books, Hilton Head Island’s second-highest season on record, Sea Turtle Patrol HHI Director Amber Kuehn recently joined WHHI News to look back on a busy summer and look forward to our off-season conservation work.
Beyond the impressive totals, 2026 brought a truly unique milestone: Hilton Head hosted the only Kemp’s Ridley sea turtle nest in the entire state of South Carolina this year. Out of over 8,000 nests statewide, Amber recalled manually relocating this rare nest during a high-tide sandstorm on June 2nd. It marks only the third time in 30 years a Kemp’s Ridley has nested on our beaches, and the hatchlings boasted a strong emergence rate.
Amber also highlighted cutting-edge research happening right here on the island. In partnership with USCB and the University of Georgia, Sea Turtle Patrol HHI’s genetics lab is using advanced DNA analysis to identify sea turtle fathers, providing unprecedented insight into turtle mating patterns that were previously impossible to track because males never come ashore.
Even with the beach quiet for the winter, our team of 24 staff and dedicated auxiliary volunteers is hard at work. From revising 1st through 5th-grade school curricula and leading field trips to managing hotel certification programs and expanding our Beach Toy Borrow Bins, outreach remains a year-round mission.
Want to get involved or celebrate with us?
- Join us at Poseidon Rooftop Bar on November 10th (5:00 PM – 8:00 PM) for our End of Season Celebration and Online Silent Auction.
- Looking for a unique holiday gift? 2027 Nest Dedications are now open on our website through December 1st.
- Visit seaturtlepatrolhhi.org to learn more about our auxiliary volunteer opportunities and programs.
