WHHI News anchor Robyn Zimmerman interviews Amber Kuehn on the close of the sea turtle nesting season. Amber shares insights on how the weather affected nest counts, what we expect next year, and DNA testing for maternal and paternal analysis. She also highlights community outreach efforts, educational programs in local schools, the volunteer-led “Put the…
The Post and Courier September 9, 2025 By Tony Kukulich BEAUFORT — While there are still little sea turtles patiently waiting in their eggs for the signal to emerge from the sand and dash for the waves, the nesting season for mother turtles has drawn to a close. “It’s been two weeks without any of…
WSAV | Sep 8, 2025 Sea turtle nesting season is winding down along the South Carolina and Georgia coastlines and it’s been a season of highs, lows, and a few surprises. WSAV looked into the challenges these creatures are facing this season. Click here to watch the WSAV report which includes insight from Sea Turtle…
The Island Packet | September 4, 2025 Hilton Head’s sea turtle moms have done their job for the season, and now it’s time for the hatchlings to leave the nest. After two weeks without a new sea turtle nest on Hilton Head, the nesting season is officially over. In total, Hilton Head Sea Turtle Patrol…
Local Life Magazine | August 1, 2025 A partnership between Sea Turtle Patrol Hilton Head Island, a genetics researcher at the University of South Carolina Beaufort and a University of Georgia scientist is unlocking the hidden lives of loggerhead sea turtles — without tagging the turtles. Click here to read the article
BLUFFTON, S.C. (WSAV) — A dolphin named Lucky is once again swimming free in the May River thanks to a coordinated rescue by the Bluffton Township Fire District (BTFD), the Lowcountry Marine Mammal Network (LMMN) and local Bluffton residents. Click here to watch the WSAV video with Sea Turtle Patrol’s Amber Kuehn
Amber Kuehn gave an update on Hilton Head Island’s sea turtle season and answered questions, on the Hilton Head Island and Bluffton Chamber of Commerce Power Hour Tele-Town Halls: July 9th, 2025. Click here to listen to Amber Kuehn on Power Hour
Local Life July 2, 2025 Story by Amber Kuehn Editor’s note: When word began to ripple through the Lowcountry about a stranded sperm whale on Hilton Head Island, we turned to the person closest to the situation. Marine biologist and Sea Turtle Patrol HHI director Amber Kuehn was there the evening of Saturday, May 3, and…
Hilton Head Sun July 1, 2025 “Each Wednesday evening during the summer, volunteers gather at the “Big Blue Chair” outside the Beach House Hilton Head Island with a shared goal: to “Put the Beach to Bed.” The hourlong program, held from 7 to 8 p.m., helps ensure Hilton Head’s beaches are safe for nesting loggerhead…
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.
