South Carolina sees early onset of sea turtle nesting

ABC Team,
Sea Turtle

Sea Turtle Release | Canaveral National Seashore; New Smyrna Beach, FL | February 5, 2020 (Photo courtesy of the National Aquarium)

 

 (WCIV) — Turtle nesting season started a couple of days early this year. South Carolina’s first title nest has been reported in Garden City.

“With warmer winter conditions and observations of mating loggerheads, there was some expectation that nesting would begin sooner than May, especially after the initial false crawl reported,” said biologist Michelle Pate, who oversees SCDNR’s sea turtle nesting program. “We ask that beachfront residents and visitors recreating on our coast turn off lights at night as sea turtles begin this annual ritual of nesting.”

The nesting season typically begins May 1.

However, recent sea turtle activity indicated nesting season might come early.

Overall, sea turtle numbers across the Southeast have increased in the past decade.

South Carolina sea turtle nest numbers:

  • 2018: 2,766
  • 2019: 8,795 (highest on record)
  • 2020: 5,560
  • 2021: 5,644
  • 2022: 7,996
  • 2023: 6,618

Four sea turtle species nest on South Carolina beaches: loggerheads, greens, Kemp’s ridleys, and leatherbacks. All four species are classified as endangered or threatened and are protected under the Endangered Species Act in addition to state law.

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