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…
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…
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.
