The Sea Turtles Have Arrived in SC!

The South Carolina barrier islands are critical habitat for nesting sea turtles.

Between May-August each year, thousands of sea turtles make their way to the dry sand dunes of the South Carolina coast to lay their eggs. Loggerhead turtles make up the majority of the nesting species, but Leatherbacks, Green turtles, and Kemp’s Ridley turtles have been documented as well. In 2020, there were over 5,500 nests recorded on the SC beaches, with almost half of these nests hatching successfully. On average, a female turtle lays 120 eggs in each nest, so that’s still a lot of turtles! 

Most marine turtles are classified as endangered or threatened for a multitude of reasons. Everything from habitat loss and poaching to entanglement in fishing nets has significantly affected their numbers. Lights on the beach at night during the laying season can be surprisingly detrimental for sea turtles (see https://www.dnr.sc.gov/seaturtle/lights.htm). Lighting near the shore not only discourages females from nesting, but it can also disorient the hatchlings who are believed to innately go towards the light – which is normally moonlight reflecting off the ocean. Even a flashlight can cause confusion for a turtle. So, if you’re at the beach this summer, kick back, enjoy the view, and turn off your lights!

Thanks to the SC Department of Natural Resources - with the help of over 1100 volunteers in South Carolina - efforts to stabilize marine turtle populations have been successful. These dedicated volunteers collect valuable data that is crucial in monitoring populations, informing management decisions, and determining appropriate protective regulations.

Want to live in a place where sea turtles nest? We’d love to have you! Check out my website to view some available properties in the area.