Loggerhead sea turtle nesting reaches 37-year high in Georgia

Loggerhead sea turtle populations are showing signs of significant recovery along the Atlantic coast. In Georgia, nest counts reached a 37-year high, surpassing 4,110 nests—the highest number recorded since 1989. The Georgia Department of Natural Resources described this trend as a “slow but steady rebound” for the species, which has been listed as threatened under the Endangered Species Act since 1978.

Conservation efforts, including the use of “turtle excluder” devices in shrimp trawler nets and daily beach patrols by the Georgia Sea Turtle Cooperative, have contributed to a roughly 4% annual increase in Atlantic nests in Georgia since the early 1990s.

In Florida, wildlife rehabilitation efforts are also supporting the species. The Turtle Hospital recently conducted swim evaluations for 26 loggerhead hatchlings to assess their readiness for release into the wild. Of the group, 25 hatchlings passed the test, while one required additional time in an incubator for further recovery.