Early Monday morning, a team monitoring the beaches came across the season’s first sea turtle nest on Kiawah Island. It is the first of what conservationists hope will be many nests laid by sea turtles up and down the South Carolina coast this year.
According to town officials, team six located the nest, marking the start of the nesting season. The announcement follows the news of the season’s first nest, reported in Garden City, South Carolina, on April 30.
Four species of sea turtles are known to nest in the Palmetto State, including loggerhead, green sea turtles, leatherbacks, and Kemp’s ridleys.
All the reported nests so far, including the one found on Kiawah Island, have been attributed to loggerhead turtles. These turtles are the most common sea turtle species found in South Carolina and are named for their large heads.
Last year, official records showed that a staggering 6,628 nests were laid across the state. With the sighting in Kiawah Island, wildlife enthusiasts and citizens alike are hopeful that the numbers might rise even more this year.
With the start of another nesting season, biologists are urging the public to aid in sea turtle conservation efforts. One key aspect of this involves reporting any sightings of dead or injured sea turtles to the designated hotline at 1-800-922-5431.
They have also provided several guidelines to follow in order to assist in the conservation of these magnificent creatures. These include:
By assisting the sea turtle population in South Carolina, citizens can contribute to the global conservation effort to preserve and protect these endangered species for future generations.
Storm Rafael Drifting in the Gulf: An Unusual November Situation As locals in Gulf Coast…
Hurricane Helene Leaves $194 Million Impact on South Carolina Timber Industry Horry County, S.C. —…
Charges Dismissed Against South Carolina Forward Ashlyn Watkins Columbia, S.C. - Suspended South Carolina forward…
Columbia Woman Encounters Snake in Bathroom Columbia, South Carolina – In a surprising incident early…
Spartanburg, South Carolina Richard Moore, a 59-year-old inmate, was executed on Friday evening in South…
Flood Watch Alert for Areas Around Charleston, SC Hey there, Charleston! It looks like we’re…