Learn more about the Loggerhead turtle.
- The Loggerhead Sea Turtle (Caretta, caretta) is the most common sea turtle in U.S. coastal waters and was listed as a “threatened” species in 1978.
- In 1988, the Loggerhead turtle is South Carolina’s State Reptile. The same year, South Carolina became the first state to enact Turtle Excluder Device (TED) regulations.
- Loggerheads in the southeastern U.S. weigh an average of 250 pounds and are generally about 36 inches long.
- Loggerhead nesting season runs May-August; hatching season lasts through October.
- Incubation duration is 45-75 days.
- Hilton Head Island has 18.5 km of beach on the Atlantic Ocean and 7.2 km of beach on Port Royal Sound and averages 225 nests per season.
- The Hilton Head Island Sea Turtle Protection Project, founded in 1985 and regularly patrols 23 km of the Island’s beaches.
- Lights Out for Turtles: Outside lights may not be visible from the beach, May 1-October 31, 10 p.m.-6 a.m.
The Coastal Discovery Museum offers an Adopt-A-Nest Program supporting environmental education in the community. Call (843) 689-6767 or visit coastaldiscovery.org.
Sources: National Wildlife Federation (nwf.org), South Carolina Department of Natural Resources (dnr.sc.gov) and the Coastal Discovery Museum (coastaldiscovery.org).