Georgia sea turtles reach record nesting numbers

Loggerhead sea turtles have set a record with 4,292 nests laid on Georgia beaches this year. This figure represents a significant recovery from a low of 358 nests recorded in 2004.

Conservation efforts involve hundreds of professionals and volunteers monitoring beaches from Cumberland to Tybee between May and August. Specialized teams, including those at the Tybee Island Marine Science Center and the Department of Natural Resources, conduct dawn patrols to locate nests and protect them from predators and human interference. On Wassaw Island, ecotourists also participate in overnight documentation at the national wildlife refuge.