South Carolina Sea Turtles & Manatees – Conservation in Action

Tuesday May 12th at 1pm at the Charleston Visitor Center

Sea Turtle Nesting season begins every year – May through September, – with the “First Emergence” of hatchlings as early as mid July all the way through early November. In coastal South Carolina and the surrounding communities last year there were more that 6,500 known loggerhead sea turtle nests counted by the state’s marine turtle program staff and the thousands of volunteers and citizen scientists that make up the State’s Turtle Team.

Come meet the team- find out how it started, what impact it’s had on the ocean’s marine turtle population and find out what’s next?

Learn about the turtles on our beaches and in our waters (and some that live in our marshes!) How climate change affects these turtles. How the staff relocate nests, respond to strandings, tagging turtles, and genetics studies that tell the story of some of our state’s “oldest locals.”

Also learn how you can “Go Slow for Wildlife Below,” Report Sightings for Marine Turtles, and other marine life including Manatees – Kelly Lambert Wildlife Biologist of the South Carolina Department of Natural Resources Endangered Species Program discusses work the Marine Resource Division does to report, monitor and protect these annual visitors to the lowcountry- find out about the work they do and how you can help.

The SCDNR Marine Turtle Conservation Program is responsible for managing and protecting sea turtles in South Carolina. Program biologists coordinate a large network of private citizens and state and federal employees who work to count and protect the state’s sea turtle nests and respond to all reports of sick, injured, and dead sea turtles along the coast. By monitoring these threatened and endangered species statewide since the 1970s, the program has ensured coastal decision-makers have accurate data depicting long term trends to inform management decisions. The program encompasses several aspects that include not only management and monitoring but also research and education.

Reserve your ticket today for May 12th at 1pm at the Charleston Visitor Center!

Don’t forget to save the date for:

World Turtle Day – May 23rd & World SeaTurtle Day – June 16th