Just How Many Sea Turtles Are On HHI?

Sea Turtle Patrol Hilton Head Island monitors Hilton Head Island beaches for sea turtle nesting and hatching activity annually, May through October, to promote the existence of this endangered species and to spread awareness of its struggle through public education and outreach.

Did you know that each morning, the Sea Turtle Patrol Hilton Head Island searches the beach for nesting loggerhead tracks, identifies nests, and marks them with poles? The nests are monitored for hatching after 45 days of incubation. When hatchlings emerge from the nest, the date is recorded and three days pass before the nest is inventoried. The contents of the nest are then counted and categorized.

To learn more about this, check out the free public Sea Turtle Talk Monday, August 21 and Monday August 28 from 8:00pm9:00pm at Low Country Celebration Park. The sea turtle talk is given by Amber

Kuehn, Director of Sea Turtle Patrol Hilton Head Island. Each 45-minute talk educates participants on what they can do to help preserve Hilton Head Island’s hatching sea turtles and learn what is happening on the nesting beach.

The Sea Turtle Patrol HHI is comprised of volunteers under the direction of SCDNR (South Carolina Department of Natural Resources) permit holder for Hilton Head Island, Amber Kuehn. They patrol the beach beginning May 1st until the end of hatching season, which is in October, protecting the local sea turtle population.

Sea Turtle Patrol Hilton Head Island is a tax deductible 501C3 organization that provides monitoring and support on Hilton Head Island beaches for sea turtle nesting and hatching activity annually. These programs, along with spreading awareness through public education and outreach, are essential to promote the continued existence of these endangered species.