Hunting Island sets new record for sea turtle nests in 2023

It’s definitely turning out to be a record summer at Hunting Island beach when it comes to sea turtle nests. 2023 will go down in the record books as being the best year for sea turtle nesting at our favorite local State Park.

Friends of Hunting Island Sea Turtle Conservation Program has announced on Friday morning that the group has posted a record year in 2023 with a total of 176 nests on the island’s beaches…eclipsing the 175 nests it had in a record setting 2022 season, which was a massively successful season all over South Carolina beaches.

Since the nesting season is not yet over, there will undoubtedly be more nests than 176 coming to the beach at Hunting Island.

Before 2022, the former record of nests found on Hunting Island was 153, back in the 2019 sea turtle nesting season, which normally lasts from May through October.

Things are looking good for turtles at Hunting Island.

It’s estimated that there are nearly 10,000 sea turtle eggs incubating on the island’s beaches.

The first nest was found on May 5th, and it’s been really busy at Hunting Island ever since.

This is also a testament to the well trained volunteers with Friends of Hunting Island who patrol the beaches every day from May through October performing a variety of tasks. They report the nests, the help protect them and they even move them if the momma turtle was having a bad night and picked a bad spot for her nest. Kudos to these folks, and we extend a big “thank you” to their tireless efforts.

Hunting Island can be a bit of a challenge for momma sea turtles coming back to lay their eggs the past two seasons because all of the dunes are new. Dunes are made of loose sand which is easier for a pregnant loggerhead to dig up and they also provide a natural cover for sea turtle nests, but are more difficult for the turtle to crawl along.

Record-breaking years have become increasingly common across the Southeast recently, and sea turtle biologists are optimistic that the trend signals the beginning of recovery for loggerhead sea turtles, whose nests make up the vast majority of nests here in the Palmetto State. Loggerhead turtles were listed as threatened under the Endangered Species Act in 1978.

State and federal law prohibits the harm of or interference with sea turtles or their nests. Harassment includes any activity that changes a sea turtle’s natural behavior, ranging from approaching nesting females to taking photos to ‘assisting’ hatchlings on their path to the ocean.

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.

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