Andrew Davis from WSAV3 talks to Amber Kuehn about Hilton Head Island’s record-breaking summer for its local sea turtle population. Despite the first nest of the season being laid on May 11th, a staggering 318 nests have already been marked so far this year. This is a huge milestone compared to the total of 237 nests recorded during the entirety of last year.
Sea Turtle Patrol HHI is tracking its sea turtle population using DNA sampling from every single nest. This genetic tracking allows experts to identify individual turtles, estimate their age (nesting females with daughters are at least 60 years old), and confirm they are returning to our beaches.
Because only 1 in every 100 hatchlings survives the journey out to the Gulf Stream, public cooperation is critical. Visitors and residents are reminded of Hilton Head Island’s strict lighting ordinance: outdoor lights must be off or downward facing at night, and only red-spectrum lights should be used on the beach. This ensures that sea turtle hatchlings follow the reflection of the moonlight on the ocean rather than getting disoriented and wandering toward backyards or porches.
Join Sea Turtle Patrol’s Turtle Talk with Amber Kuehn on Mondays through August at Lowcountry Celebration Park to learn more. Visit our Event calendar for details.
