Sea turtle season 2024

By Glenda Harris

Contributor

Another successful Sea Turtle season on Hilton Head has come to an end with the nest numbers a bit down from last year. This year, there were 204 nests counted, 22,640 eggs laid, and 14,878 eggs hatched. Loggerheads were the only sea turtle species seen this year on Hilton Head Island. The females return to the beach where they were hatched every 2-3 years to nest and each nest has an average of 100 eggs.      

This past summer, beachgoers lucky enough to be on the island on June 17 got a very special treat when a momma sea turtle made her way onto the sandy beach during day-time hours to dig her nest. This is a rare occurrence. The momma turtle then slowly made her way back into the surf to begin her ocean journey to the place she calls home.

The island’s turtle nests were also very lucky this summer because when tropical storm Debby blew through, there was little impact, with only one nest lost out of 195. As Amber Kuehn, the Sea Turtle Patrol Director explained, it is the rain from storms that creates the most problems because hatchlings need dry conditions to make their way up and out of the nest and onto the beach.

There is something new for the 2025 sea turtle season. Holiday Nest Dedications will be available to purchase from Nov 1 to Dec 1, 2024. As a volunteer organization, the Sea Turtle Patrol relies on donations and offers like this to continue their great work. Go to www.seaturtlepatrol.org to learn more.

Giving a Nest Dedication is such a thoughtful gift idea for this holiday season. Especially for kids who love going to the beach. Here’s how it works: When a Nest Dedication is purchased, both the purchaser and the recipient will be updated throughout the season on the status, when the nest is laid and also the general location of the nest.  A certificate is included in the packet which has your specific nest number. By knowing when the nest was laid, you can determine approximately when your nest may hatch and be on the lookout. You will also get a limited-edition Sea Turtle Patrol holiday ornament.

Join in the fun, help support the hard work of the Sea Turtle Patrol AND spread interest and knowledge about sea turtles. The more of us invested in the protection and preservation of sea turtles, the more successful the effort will be. We all love seeing these incredibly gentle and determined reptiles and hope to see them for many years to come.

A former Bluffton resident, Glenda finds stories everywhere and writes about nature, travel, healthy living and books.