From July to October, sea turtle hatching season occurs, and the Kiawah Island Turtle Patrol Hatching Team works to protect nests from predators and the elements, assists hatchlings as they leave the nest, and records post-hatch details.
As hatching time approaches (about two months after eggs are laid), the patrol looks for signs of hatchling emergence, which occurs in groups. They monitor daily for tiny tracks in the sand that indicate hatchlings have emerged. Three days after the first signs of emergence, they inventory and catalog the nest’s contents and assist any hatchlings that haven’t left the nest with the group.
The patrol oversees 200-400 nests each season, achieving an average nest success rate of 70%. They report all data to the South Carolina Department of Natural Resources (SCDNR). Click here to view the latest turtle nest and hatching data for Kiawah’s beach.
With nests already starting to hatch, it’s important to do your part to help local wildlife. You can support the turtles by following our RSVP initiative: Respect, Support, Volunteer, and Protect wildlife and habitat. Help our turtles by respecting hatchlings and avoiding the use of lights on the beach at night. You might also consider volunteering with the Town of Kiawah Island’s Turtle Patrol to play a hands-on role in protecting local turtle populations.