Every year, loggerhead sea turtles come ashore to lay their eggs. In Horry and Georgetown counties, more than 100 loggerhead turtle nests containing a total of 12,000+ eggs line the beaches. It's a precarious life for these little ones. Only about 70 percent of the eggs hatch.
Mothers dig nests by moonlight and can be easily spooked by a bright light, even a camera flashing a picture. Newly hatched turtles use moonlight reflecting from the ocean waves to find their way home, which is why we promote shielding or turning off beachfront lights after 10 p.m. during nesting season.
Loggerhead turtles take 30 years to mature...10 years longer than a human! All told, only about a third of loggerhead turtles live to adulthood. That's why it's essential we humans take responsibility for our role in protecting their survival.
Other fun facts about loggerhead sea turtles:
Fill out this form and we'll send you a free, colorful "Lights Out" sticker to help remind beachfront property owners to turn off lights by 10 p.m. during nesting.
To protect sea turtles, Santee Cooper is proud to partner with SCUTE, the South Carolina United Turtle Enthusiasts. Organized by the South Carolina Department of Natural Resources, SCUTE members monitor sea turtles, protect turtle nests and habitats, and work to educate people about how to be good stewards for these animals.
The sticker you've signed up for is part of our efforts to conserve South Carolina wildlife and habitats. In addition to sporting the sticker, you can help protect loggerhead turtles by dimming beachfront lights at night, avoiding taking "turtle selfies" with flash, and not touching mothers as they make their way to nesting sites. SCUTE encourages observation, as long as you don't spook the turtles!
Follow SCUTE on Facebook to keep up with turtle nests, sightings, and more.
Santee Cooper practices good stewardship and partners with other organizations that protect our natural environment. We were the first — and are still the largest — green power program in South Carolina to generate electricity from renewable resources for our customers. In addition to our work with SCUTE, we have participated in green projects such as: