It’s definitely turning out to be a record summer at Hunting Island beach when it comes to sea turtle nesting, and it’s not even over yet.
Friends of Hunting Island Sea Turtle Conservation Program has announced that the group has posted a record year in 2022 after marking the 154th and 155th nest on the island’s beaches on Sunday morning…eclipsing the 153 nests it had in a record setting 2019 season.
Before 2019, the former record of nests found on Hunting Island was 141, back in the 2016 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 hatched on July 7th, and with multiple nests appearing nearly every morning lately, it’s unlikely that the nesting season is over as of yet.
What will the ultimate total, and the new record at Hunting Island be?
The next couple of weeks will tell.
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.
