WSAV News 3 | How did sea turtles on HHI fare through Debby
Amber Kuehn tells WSAV’s Danielle Cobb about how the sea turtles on Hilton Head beaches were impacted by tropical storm Debby.
Amber Kuehn tells WSAV’s Danielle Cobb about how the sea turtles on Hilton Head beaches were impacted by tropical storm Debby.
Watch the NBC News interview with Amber and hear about how volunteers in South Carolina are helping study threatened sea turtles.
Read Amber’s article from the CH2 about “The Next Generation”, Sea Turtle Patrol HHI’s theme for 2024.
Watch for updates on sea turtle nesting season with Amber from WHHI.
Join Amber with the Town of Hilton Head Island to learn fun sea turtle facts and discover how you can help make this nesting season a success.
Riley Miller with WJCL reports on Sea Turtle Patrol Hilton Head Island sharing reminders for visiting the beach and celebrating our first nest of the season.
Burnt Church Distillery is raising money for STPHHI this month. Watch this WTOC interview with Amber and learn all about it!
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.