Sea turtle nesting season opens in South Carolina; loggerheads remain protected

South Carolina’s sea turtle nesting season is under way, running from May 1 through Oct. 31, the program reported.

Loggerhead turtles make up the majority of nests in the state and are listed as threatened under the federal Endangered Species Act. The segment cited state data showing 8,775 nests recorded in 2019—the highest on record—and reported 3,901 nests last year. The South Carolina Department of Natural Resources noted that female loggerheads do not nest every year and may lay several nests about two weeks apart while consuming little to no food during nesting periods.

Four species of sea turtles may nest on South Carolina beaches—loggerheads, green turtles, Kemp’s ridleys and leatherbacks—and all are protected under state and federal law, the program said. The segment provided seasonal context and conservation framing for beachgoers and local managers as nesting season begins.