10/24/2024
Four thousand eight hundred — that's roughly the number of sea turtle nests documented by SCDNR staff and trained volunteers this season as it winds to an official close on Oct. 31. 🗓️
Every day since April 29, members of the ~1,500-person team patrolled beaches, warded off predators and carefully excavated hatched nests to collect data. Thanks to their work, preliminary data suggests around 280,000 live hatchlings made it off South Carolina beaches and to the ocean. 🐢
The odds are stacked high against these hatchlings, but what's certain is that many of them would never have had a chance without the devoted efforts of so many people who care — from State Parks rangers to USFWS staff to longtime beach residents. 🏝️
Thank you for everything you did to put another successful sea turtle season on the books! 🙌