Meet a few of the fascinating turtles that frequent Lowcountry waters.
Here in our St. Simons Island waters, we are fortunate to host four of the seven majestic sea turtle species. Loggerheads are the most common in this area, but Leatherbacks, Kemp’s Ridleys and Green sea turtles also call our waters home.
Loggerheads can weigh as much as 300 pounds and measure up to four feet in shell length. They earned their name for their massive head and powerful jaws, which enables them to feed on hard-shelled critters like whelks and conch.
Green sea turtles are named for the green fat in their body.
Their vegetarian diet consists largely of sea grass causes their fat to be green. They largest hard-shelled turtle species. Green turtles can grow to an average shell length of five feet and weigh approximately 350 pounds. Green turtles don’t typically nest on our shores, but juveniles regularly forage our waters from April through November.
Leatherbacks are unique because they don’t have a hard shell. Instead, they sport a leathery shell with longitudinal ridges.
Leatherbacks claim the title of “largest sea turtle,” typically weighing in between 800 and 1,300 pounds. The largest sea turtle on record was a Leatherback found on the coast of Wales, weighing roughly 2,020 pounds. Leatherbacks migrate through our near-shore waters in the spring and fall. They feast on jellyfish as they commute between their feeding grounds in Nova Scotia and their tropical nesting beaches.
The Kemp’s Ridley turtles are the smallest and rarest, weighing about 100 pounds and measuring only two feet in length.
Like the Leatherback and Green sea turtles, these reptiles don’t typically nest in South Carolina. But they come into our inshore and near-shore waters in warmer months to snack on our delicious blue crab population.
Sadly, all of the sea turtle species in our area are listed as an endangered species. They are protected by both federal and state law, but their numbers are declining by both natural and human-caused threats. Sharks are the turtles’ primary natural predator, but humans contribute to sea turtle mortality. Destruction of natural habitat, boat propeller damage, pollution, commercial fishing and climate change all contribute.
As individuals, we can help protect sea turtles in any number of ways.
If you must use a plastic bag or spot one in the environment, knot it up before throwing it away. This prevents them from blowing out of landfills or trash cans.
Most importantly, if you rent or own a property that is visible from the beach, turn your exterior lights off after 10 p.m. From the beginning of May through the end of October is nesting and hatching season. If you are walking on the beach after dark during this time, use a red-bulb flashlight and avoid using your cell phone. Lights from anything other than the moon can be disorienting for newly-hatched turtles, making their way to the ocean.
When you’re out on the water this month, keep your eyes peeled and you might be lucky enough to spot a sea turtle. To increase your odds, book a kayak or boat tour with one of Outside Hilton Head’s experienced guides.
By Anneliza Itkor, Outside Hilton Head
