Lights out! Sea turtle nesting season in South Carolina begins May 1

MYRTLE BEACH, S.C. (WPDE) — May 1 marks the beginning of sea turtle nesting season in South Carolina, and officials are reminding the community and tourists to leave them alone.

Sea turtles are protected under the Federal Endangered Species Act of 1973 which fines up to $15,000.

The animals are also protected under the Marine Turtle Protection Act. The act states that “no person may take, possess, disturb, mutilate, destroy, cause to be destroyed, sell, offer for sale, transfer, molest or harass any marine sea turtle or its nests or eggs at any times.”

According to the South Carolina Department of Natural Resources, individuals that violate federal law by harming or interfering with sea turtles or their nests can be subject to civil penalties of up to $25,000 and up to a year’s imprisonment.

If you see a sea turtle, here are some rules to follow:

• Watch from a distance
• Lights out! Especially flashlights
• Fill in your holes
• Pick up your trash and toys before leaving the beach
• Let the turtles nest on a clean, dark, flat and quiet beach in private

Additionally, turtle hatchlings should not be picked up and placed in the ocean, as they need to crawl on their own to set their navigational compass and increase their chance of survival.

SCDNR biologists said they tallied more than 5,000 nests for the 2021 season. A record of nearly 8,800 nests were counted in 2019.

Nesting season for the turtles runs through Oct. 31.