We are thrilled to share that Sea Turtle Patrol was featured in Forbes! In a brand-new article titled “Sustainability And Species Preservation Highlight World Oceans Day,” writer Roger Sands highlighted our “Put the Beach to Bed” program as a shining example of how local communities can protect marine life. “At Beach House Resort Hilton Head, ocean…
Every sea turtle nesting season brings a wave of excitement to our local beaches, but some arrivals are deeply personal. As Amber Kuehn, Director of Sea Turtle Patrol HHI, shares in her recent article, “‘Stumpy’ is a term that we give to any nesting female loggerhead with an injured flipper. In the database, there are…
In a recent interview with WHHI News, Amber Kuehn, Director of Sea Turtle Patrol HHI, highlights the arrival of the highly anticipated sea turtle nesting season on Hilton Head Island. Watch the full interview here to learn more about how to keep up with our daily nest count, nest dedications, monitoring and relocating nests during…
Sea Turtle Patrol Hilton Head Island (STPHHI) is breaking new ground in wildlife education with the launch of a Virtual Reality (VR) experience. Recently featured on WHHI News, the project allows users to step onto the sand of Hilton Head to witness the rare and protected process of sea turtle nesting and hatching. Developed over…
March 19, 2026 Sea Turtle Patrol Hilton Head Island (STPHHI), in partnership with the Hilton Head Island-Bluffton Chamber of Commerce, is proud to announce the official launch of the Sea Turtle Safe Stay program. Recently featured on WSAV, this initiative provides short-term rental hosts with the tools and education needed to turn every guest stay into a…
The Post and CourierJanuary 30, 2026 Humans aren’t the only Lowcountry residents feeling the cold. The South Carolina Aquarium’s first admission of the year is a cold-stunned green sea turtle. The juvenile was found by a beach walker Jan. 26 on Hilton Head Island and transported by volunteers to the aquarium for treatment. As the first turtle rescue…
HILTON HEAD ISLAND, S.C. (WSAV) — During the 2025 nesting season, Sea Turtle Patrol Hilton Head Island (STPHHI) ensured that over 16,000 sea turtle hatchlings made it to the ocean, officials announced Tuesday. STPHHI is a volunteer organization focused on protecting sea turtles in the Lowcountry through beach monitoring, nest relocation and public education and…
Amber Kuehn joins Chip Collins on Porchcast to discuss the living ecology of the May River, Hilton Head’s beaches, and the marsh… from why the water looks green to how dolphins, manatees, and sea turtles use these waterways through the seasons. In the Porchcast, you’ll learn: If you love the Lowcountry, or you’ve just moved…
Post and Courier | September 29, 2025 Sea turtle experts along the South Carolina coast discuss how weather impacted this year’s low nesting season and some predict next year to be a record-breaking year. The article also highlights ongoing efforts to protect nests, including relocating those laid in vulnerable areas to safer spots, ensuring hatchlings…
A green sea turtle (Chelonia mydas) encountered around Hilton Head Island represents one of the world’s largest hard‑shelled marine reptiles, known for their herbivorous diet and reliance on warm, shallow coastal habitats. Although loggerheads dominate South Carolina nesting activity, juvenile green turtles forage in the region’s estuaries, where seagrass and algae provide essential nutrition. Like all reptiles, green turtles are ectothermic, meaning their body temperature depends on the surrounding water. When sudden winter cold fronts push water temperatures below roughly 50°F (10°C), turtles can experience cold‑stunning, a hypothermic state in which they become lethargic, lose the ability to swim, and may float to the surface or wash ashore. Cold‑stunned turtles are vulnerable to drowning, boat strikes, and predation, and require rapid rescue to prevent secondary complications such as pneumonia or shock. Conservation groups along the Southeast coast monitor for these events, as even a single cold snap can impact multiple species—including green turtles—within the island’s interconnected marshes and tidal creeks. Understanding cold‑stunning helps highlight how sensitive sea turtles are to temperature shifts and why protecting their habitats is essential for long‑term survival.
