May is here and that means that it is also sea turtle nesting season here on Hilton Head Island. Did you know that every year many sea turtles come to our shore and lay their eggs? When you stay in one of our Hilton Head vacation rentals, you and the family may catch a glimpse of a nest. Let’s see below what you need to know all about sea turtle nesting season here on the island.
Sea Turtle Nesting Season is in Session
In late spring every year is when many love to flock to the island to not only enjoy the beaches but also to maybe get a glimpse of a sea turtle. May 1st every year is the start of one of the most fun times to be on vacation to Hilton Head Island. It is the start of sea turtle nesting season and it is something that you may not want to miss. The nighttime is when the sea turtle mothers come to the shore and lay their eggs in the nest they built. Hilton Head Island isn’t just where you will find them as they are all along the coast of South Carolina. Sea turtle nesting season doesn’t end until the end of October, so while you are on vacation to Hilton Head Island this summer, you and the family may see a turtle nest or two.
What You Need to do if You See a Turtle Nest
While you are on vacation to our amazing island you may realize that we take protecting the sea turtle nest very seriously. The island does have many local volunteers who will go out to the beaches each morning in search of a new nest. Once a new nest is found they will be marked with a special netting along with stakes and ribbon to let people know about them. Soon after the nests are all marked it’s time to wait for each nest to hatch which takes roughly 50-70 days. However, there are a few things that you have to remember while you are on vacation during the nesting season here on the island:
- Don’t get close to the sea turtle nest or a sea turtle. We don’t want them to feel threatened if you happen to see a turtle on the beach. .
- Please do not disturb the nests as they are helping keep predators away from the eggs.
- Don’t leave anything on the beach such as chairs, umbrellas or toys overnight. We don’t want the mother sea turtles to be injured while they are laying their eggs.
- Remember to pick up and throw any trash away that you brought on the beach with you. We want to help keep our beaches littler free and help protect the sea life too.
While there are many other things that you can to help protect each sea turtle nest, these are the most important ones we wanted to share. If you haven’t made your vacation reservations, check out our Hilton Head Island vacation rentals today. We hope that you and your family will be able to see a nest or two while you vacation with us this year!
