South-Carolina
South Carolina sees early onset of sea turtle nesting – ABC Columbia
Sea Turtle Release | Canaveral National Seashore; New Smyrna Beach, FL | February 5, 2020 (Photo courtesy of the National Aquarium)
(WCIV) — Turtle nesting season started a couple of days early this year. South Carolina’s first title nest has been reported in Garden City.
“With warmer winter conditions and observations of mating loggerheads, there was some expectation that nesting would begin sooner than May, especially after the initial false crawl reported,” said biologist Michelle Pate, who oversees SCDNR’s sea turtle nesting program. “We ask that beachfront residents and visitors recreating on our coast turn off lights at night as sea turtles begin this annual ritual of nesting.”
The nesting season typically begins May 1.