FOLLY BEACH, S.C. — The sea turtle hatchling season has arrived, and volunteers with the Folly Beach Turtle Watch Program have been busy tracking nests and assisting nesting female turtles. Over the course of Wednesday night, two separate nests hatched, and a female loggerhead turtle laid a new nest on the beach, marking an exciting time for both the turtles and the dedicated volunteers.
A Bright Full Moon Guides Hatchlings to the Ocean
As a near full moon illuminated the night sky, hatchlings emerged from their nests. Thanks to the moon’s bright reflection on the ocean, the hatchlings were instinctively drawn toward the water. Volunteers noted that the hatchlings’ tracks leading to the ocean were narrow, spanning only about 10 feet, compared to the usual spread of dozens of feet. The narrowness of the track was attributed to the moon’s brightness and the recent change in the Folly Beach ordinance, which now requires “lights out after sunset” instead of “lights out after 10 p.m.” This modification helps prevent disorienting lights from drawing hatchlings away from their natural path to the ocean.
A Nesting Female Loggerhead’s Adventure
While the hatchlings were heading to the ocean, a female loggerhead turtle emerged from the water at around 8:30 p.m. to lay her nest. Typically, these nesting turtles return to the water within 90-120 minutes, but this particular turtle took much longer and embarked on quite an adventure.
A responsible beachgoer noticed the turtle and quickly reported it to the South Carolina Department of Natural Resources (SCDNR) hotline. The Folly Beach Turtle Watch Program was then notified and volunteers arrived to locate the turtle nesting on top of a dune. After giving the turtle an hour of privacy, volunteers discovered she had moved from her initial nesting spot, finding herself at the bottom of the dune, tangled in vines and vegetation.
Though volunteers were initially concerned for her safety, the turtle perked up after about 30 minutes, threw sand over her nest, and eventually made her way out of the thicket of plants. With some coaxing, the turtle was steered away from West Ashley Avenue and back to the beach. She finally returned to the water well after midnight.
A Reminder for Beachgoers
With hatchlings now emerging, residents and beachgoers are reminded to turn off all beachfront lights after dark. Lights left on after sunset can disorient hatchlings, causing them to move toward the light source instead of the ocean, which could lead to their untimely demise. The Turtle Watch Program encourages everyone to do their part to protect these vulnerable creatures during this critical time of year.
