The first ever recorded Kemp’s ridley turtle nest hatched on Thursday in Beaufort county on Hilton Head Island. The nest was the first of its kind recorded on Hilton Head and just the fourth ever recorded in South Carolina.
Her eggs were laid when her nest was created when she emerged from the ocean along the beach on April 26th and was called “an exciting kick-off to the season,” according to SCDNR biologist Michelle Pate.
There are only about 7,000 to 9,000 nesting Kemp’s ridley sea turtle females worldwide
The town of Hilton Head Island’s official Facebook page posted photos Thursday morning of the hatchlings.
South Carolina’s official sea turtle nesting season runs from May 1 to October 31 each year.
Read more, and find out what you can do to help protect sea turtles in the Beaufort area.
Sea Turtle Nesting Season Reminders
- Report all sick/injured/dead sea turtles and nest disturbances to the SCDNR at 1-800-922-5431 so that staff/volunteers can respond as soon as possible.
- Respect boating laws and boat cautiously, especially in small tidal creeks where sea turtles like to feed. Boat strikes have emerged as the leading cause of death for sea turtles in South Carolina.
- Keep artificial lights off the beach at night during nesting season – this includes beachfront property lights and flash photography, which can disorient nesting mothers and hatchlings.
- Always respect sea turtles by observing them from a distance on the beach. Individuals that violate federal law by harming or interfering with sea turtles or their nests can be subject to civil penalties of up to $25,000 and up to a year’s imprisonment.
- Keep our beaches and ocean clean by avoiding single-use plastics. Plastic bags and balloons are among the most common trash items found on South Carolina beaches and can cause injury or death when sea turtles mistake them for food.
- Promote and support the SCDNR program for continued conservation of sea turtles in South Carolina.
