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Loggerhead Sea Turtles Of Hilton Head Island

Hilton Head Island is home to some very unique and in some cases endangered animals. One of these is the Loggerhead Sea Turtle. These turtles visit Hilton Head Islands beaches every summer to lay their eggs, a process which may take the mother turtle over an hour. She buries approximately one hundred eggs in the nest and then returns to the sea. Sixty days later, the hatchlings emerge and make their perilous journey to the ocean. Biologists estimate that only one out of every thousand hatchlings will make it to adulthood. The reasons for this are both natural and man made. Turtle hatchlings and adult turtles frequently become tangled in nets, and bright, artificial lights disorient them. Turtles on land are also relatively defenseless and most hatchlings are eaten by predators before they reach the shore.

Loggerhead sea turtles, like all sea turtles are reptiles that have adapted to live in the ocean. Instead of legs, these creatures have powerful front and rear flippers that allow them to propel smoothly through the ocean. Their shells are made up of horny plates called scutes, and the upper shell, or carapace, is usually reddish in color while the lower shell, or plastron is dull yellow or brown.

These turtles live in temperate and subtropical waters, which is why the ocean near Hilton Head Island is such an ideal place for them, particularly since they like to feed in coastal bays and shallow waters. Except for egg lying, these turtles never leave the ocean, and spend most of their time feeding on shellfish, crabs, mussels, and clams.

These animals are endangered and Hilton Head Island encourages its residents and visitors to do their part to protect them. You can do this by cleaning up litter and debris from the beach, making sure to observe sea turtles from a distance, not disturbing nest sites, and most importantly, turning out the lights. Artificial lights discourage female turtles from nesting, and sea turtle hatchlings can become disoriented by the lights from buildings and streets near beaches. The Town of Hilton Head Island requires that all lights on structures that are visible from the beach be shielded or turned off after 10pm from May 1st to October 31st for this reason.

When you visit the island, be sure to be on the lookout for these unique animals, and follow the tips above to help ensure that they will continue to make Hilton Head their home for years to come.

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The author regularly vacations in Hilton Head Island, if you'd like more information about local attractions and activities, please visit the website.

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