Sea Turtle Nest Monitoring System

South Carolina DNR Sea Turtle Conservation Program

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Nests
1-5
6-10
11-20
21-40
40+

Beach Description

Hilton Head Island
South Carolina DNR Sea Turtle Conservation Program

Hilton Head Island is the largest barrier island on the South Carolina coast. It is comprised of gated communities, private homes, condominiums, and multi-story, oceanfront homes. A rock revetment was constructed on the mid-portion, and beach nourishments have provided a dry beach here. Loggerheads typically nest on all areas of Hilton Head's sandy shore. Leatherback, green and one kemp's ridley nests have been documented. There are small pocket beaches on the side of the island facing Port Royal Sound: Pine Island (1.18 km) and Hickory Forest/Mitchelville Beach (2.94 km). Most nests are laid along the ocean-facing beach. Hilton Head Island has 23.8 km of beach on the Atlantic Ocean and 4.12 km of beach on Port Royal Sound. A total of 27.94 km of beach are patrolled daily by volunteers. Hilton Head averages 250 nests per season.


Year

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Summary What does this mean Activity

DNA Samples Assigned: 5 (1.2%)
Unique Females: 5 (analysis incomplete)
Nests: 408
  In Situ: 127
  Relocated: 281 (68.8%)
  Incubating: 318
  Inventoried: 90 (22%)
False Crawls: 454

Estimated Eggs to Date: 36758
  Eggs Lost: 619 (1.6%)
  Hatched Eggs: 9265
  Emerged Hatchlings: 8756
  Mean Incubation Duration (all): 56.7 days
  Mean Clutch Count: 116.7 eggs (Relocated Only)

Mean Hatch Success: 79.8%
Mean Emergence Success: 75.4%
Nest Success: 21.5%
Beach Success: 47.3%

Last Updated: 2026-07-30 15:10:43 (22.1 hours ago)

Hover mouse over each chart for a description.

Significant Nest Losses
Egg Status Egg Losses
SpeciesNestsFalse Crawls
Loggerhead407452
Green Turtle2
Kemp's Ridley1