Sea turtle hatching season under way
From staff reports
Sea turtle hatching season is officially under way in Beaufort County and the rest of coastal South Carolina, and state wildlife officials are asking beach residents and visitors to give these animals the best chance of success by following best practices for the season: (1) keep the beach dark and free of lights to avoid disorienting hatchlings, and (2) leave only footprints along the coast by picking up litter, removing personal belongings and filling in any holes at the end of the day.
The state’s first hatchlings of 2022 emerged Sunday, July 3 from the first nest laid this year on on Lighthouse Island. Other nests quickly followed suit across the coast.
On Thursday, July 7, the No. 3 nest on Hunting Island, laid May 10, hatched.
“The babies have hatched, the babies have hatched!!” Friends of Hinting Island posted on its Facebook page.
Beginning in May of each year, up to four of the planet’s seven sea turtle species come ashore to lay eggs on South Carolina beaches. After approximately two months of incubation, young turtles emerge from their ping pong ball-sized eggs and quickly make their way toward the ocean.
“The emergence of hatchlings from nests reported so far is well under the average 60-day incubation period,” South Carolina Department of Natural Resources (SCDNR) Wildlife Biologist Michelle Pate said in a news release. “This shortened incubation period typically happens with nests laid early in the season. Hot temperatures can also affect the duration of the incubation period, leading to the early emergence of hatchlings.”
Female sea turtles will continue nesting on South Carolina beaches for about two more months. At this season’s halfway mark, more than 5,600 nests have been counted, surpassing the total sea turtle nest count of last season. Sea turtles do not nest every season, resulting in cyclical fluctuations from year to year. Laying eggs requires a great deal of energy and can thus be affected by the quality and availability of food during the winter, among other factors.
“While the numbers we’re seeing are still slightly below the trend we saw in the record 2019 year, when we counted a minimum of 8,796 nests by the end of the nesting season, these are still huge numbers, which is overall very encouraging for this protected species,” Pate said.
Sea Turtle Nesting Season Reminders
– Keep artificial lights off the beach at night during sea turtle season. This includes beachfront property lights, flashlights and cell phones, which can scare off females and disorient hatchlings.
– Always respect sea turtles by observing them from a distance on the beach. Do not pick up, touch, or otherwise interfere with hatchlings heading to the ocean. The journey hatchlings take from their nest to the water is a highly important one. Individuals that violate federal law by interfering with sea turtles, nests, and eggs can be subject to civil penalties of up to $25,000 and up to a year’s imprisonment.
– Leave only footprints. Pick up litter, remove personal belongings and fill in holes at the end of the day.
– Report all sick/injured/hooked/dead sea turtles and any nest or animal disturbances to the SCDNR at 1-800-922-5431 so that staff and volunteers can respond as soon as possible.
– Support our efforts for continued protection of sea turtles in South Carolina. Donate online at https://bit.ly/3PkiIA5 with the Marine Resources Fund or via check to the SCDNR Sea Turtle Program, PO Box 12559, Charleston, S.C. 29412.
