to allow any stragglers to find their way to the ocean on their
own. On day three, an inventory of the nest is conducted. The
team counts hatched and unhatched eggs, notes the depth of
the nest, and records the number of live or dead hatchlings.
Visitors especially enjoy it when hatchlings remain in the
nest. Although, of course, it is best for the hatchlings to make
their way to the water on their own, we are still secretly
thrilled to help the laggards in their quest to reach the ocean.
Going beyond protection, the Kiawah Island turtle patrol
was one of the first to become involved in scientific studies.
Both DNA analysis and an Isotope Study are conducted for
each nest laid on our beach. One egg is taken from each
nest we find (if one breaks in the location process, we use
that broken egg) and used for scientific research. Dr. Brian
Shamblin of the University of Georgia determines the DNA
of the shell to identify a unique individual female. The yolk,
if available, tells him what that female had been feeding on.
Interestingly, we now know that here on Kiawah we have
grandmother, mother, and granddaughter loggerheads laying
nests. We have also learned that loggerheads do not return
exclusively to the island of their birth. Two years ago, for
example, we had a female who in a single season laid five
nests—two on Kiawah, one in Georgia, one in Florida and
one in North Carolina. She was one busy loggerhead!
Interested in seeing the turtles hatch? Visit our page on
the Town’s website: “Where can I go to see a hatchling?”
(www.kiawahturtle.com) That same page notes when
inventories are happening. Want to show your support? Pick
up a free “turtle friendly” flashlight sticker (donated by the
Town) at either the Nature Center or Kiawah Town Hall.
Want to become a member of the Turtle Patrol? Contact
Lynne Sager (permit holder) at [email protected];
telephone: home (843) 768-4865 or cell (843) 670-7063.
The SCDNR attributes the increase in the loggerhead
population to conservation efforts throughout the State.
They are especially grateful to the dedicated volunteers on
the State’s beaches. We can all be proud of the critical role that
the Kiawah Island turtle patrol has played in this recovery. NK
In 1990 turtle program sponsorship was moved to the
Town of Kiawah Island, which led to the successful program
in place today. Currently, a committee of nine (including
the Permit Holder, the Kiawah Town biologist, and seven
zone captains) directs as many as 240 volunteers who assist
with daily responsibilities—this from an original group that
included a committee of only three leading 24 volunteers.
The prerequisite that volunteers be full-time Kiawah
residents was waived in the early 2000s under Joe Pezzullo
who was the patrol’s permit holder for over 20 years. Today
both full- and part-time residents are joined by vacationers
who visit Kiawah each year to participate in our program.
Many plan their vacations around turtle nesting season.
Thanks in large part to this change, the Kiawah Turtle
Patrol has become the largest in the state of South Carolina.
The SCDNR continues to direct the program, establishing
guidelines and requirements.
To participate as a full patrol member, you must commit
to volunteer for a minimum of an entire week, but interested
parties are encouraged to shadow our patrols at any time. As
a result, often we constitute quite an entourage with as many
as ten additional people walking along. Visitor feedback on
patrol shadowing has been wonderful—with a fun time had
by all.
There is a rhythm that drives our patrols based on
historical loggerhead nesting schedules. Typically our
duties include:
NESTING PATROL: Starting around Mother’s Day and
running through early August, our truck searches for turtle
crawls along the entire beach beginning at 6 a.m. When
a crawl is sighted, the team, which includes three or four
volunteers, locates the nest and marks its location. If it has
been laid below the high tide line, it is relocated to a safe area.
HATCHING PATROL: Loggerhead nests incubate for
50–60 days from the date they are laid. Once nests have been
located, hatching patrol members walk their section of the
beach checking nests for signs of predation, sand doming, and
overwash. Once hatchlings emerge, the patrol waits three days
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