Seabrook Island logged its first nest of the season on Cinco de Mayo! Better yet, it is the first loggerhead nest in the State of South Carolina! Sandy MacCoss located the crawl, probed, and found the nest with 117 eggs between boardwalks 6 and 7. Lucy Hoover helped Sandy relocate the eggs to a safer location above the high tide line.
The nest marks the official start of loggerhead sea turtle nesting season in South Carolina, which generally runs through October. This is the second time on record that Seabrook Island has been home to the first nest in the state, with the previous time being 2014. Neighboring Kiawah Island was recently home to the first nest in the state in 2019.
Remember that sea turtles are protected by federal and local laws. You can help the Seabrook Island Turtle Patrol by adhering to the following best practices while on the beach!
· Lights out! Turn off exterior lights and draw blinds if you live in a home along the beach. Bright lights discourage nesting and attract hatchlings away from the water. If you need to use a light on the beach, shield the light with a red lens.
· If you see a nesting turtling or emerging hatchling, keep your distance, keep pets away, and notify the turtle patrol at 843-310-4280.
· Stay clear of nests and out of the dunes. Sea turtle nests on our beach are marked with an orange DNR sign and white pole and are always located in areas where no one should tread. Similarly, stay out of bird nesting areas as indicated by signage.
· Fill in any holes and level and sand structures that you make on the beach. Tiny hatchlings and big nesting mother turtles alike can become stuck in or on these excavations.
· Remove all equipment from the beach before leaving. Items on the beach discourage nesting mothers and, in some cases, can ensnare them. If you have a permit to have a bonfire, extinguish the fire thoroughly by the required time and cover with sand.
· Pack out any trash or food waste that you bring to the beach. Trash is dangerous when ingested and food waste attracts predators.