Lights Out Oceanfront Hilton Head Island
Oceanfront rental homes on Hilton Head Island may have small signs posted saying “Lights Out at Night, May 1-Oct. 31”. This is because Hilton Head Island's 12 miles of beaches are home to 
Endangered loggerhead sea turtles. Lights shining on the beach can disorient the female turtles when they emerge from the ocean, dig holes in the sand, and deposit as many as 120 eggs on the upper part of the beach. A light shining on the beach can also cause hatchlings leaving the nests to become confused, making them unable to find their way to sea. Hilton Head Island’s first sea turtle nest of 2010 hatched July 13!
Near dawn, you can see staff from the Sea Turtle Protection program riding their ATVs on the beach, checking for new nests. After about 60 days, hatchlings emerge when the temperature drops at night. After the hatchlings leave the nests, the staff inventories each nest to determine how many eggs successfully hatched. If you see a sea turtle, hatchling, nest, or turtle tracks (which look like tracks made by a small bulldozer) on the beach, you are very lucky. Leave them alone, and watch in wonder.
Want to learn more? The Coastal Discovery Museum hosts evening lecture and beach walks at a mid island beach. After a presentation about loggerhead sea turtles, two small groups head to the beach to examine the nesting habitat and nest sites. Tuesdays and Thursdays 8-10 p.m. from June 1-Sept. 2. $20 adults; $15 children (ages 4-12). Reservations are required at 843-689-6767 ext. 223.
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