The first sea turtle nest of the season was discovered on the beaches of Jekyll Island on May 9th, and with that, the destination has officially launched its brand new live Sea Turtle Tracker, an interactive tool that allows visitors to monitor the locations of active nests across the island throughout nesting season! Keep scrolling to learn more.
What is the Georgia Sea Turtle Center?
The Georgia Sea Turtle Center is an education, research and rehabilitation facility for sea turtles, located on Georgia’s beautiful Jekyll Island. The center works to help rescue and rehabilitate sea turtles, and educate the public on these adorable & important creatures that call our coasts and oceans home.
Dr. Terry Norton, founder of the Georgia Sea Turtle Center said in a statement,
Our hope is to not only help this charismatic species survive but to watch it thrive. And, you can make a direct impact. Your support will continue to help our mission for rehabilitation, research and education of sea turtles and wildlife on the Georgia coast.
The Sea Turtle Center is open year-round, with both indoor and outdoor programs that are appropriate for guests of all ages.
What is the Sea Turtle Tracker?
The Sea Turtle Tracker is tourists’ and locals’ best tool to track the active sea turtle nests, so they can be careful in the area!
See how many nests are popping up on the beaches, here!And remember, looking from a distance is fine, but do NOT disturb the nests or turtles. And if you happen to see a sea turtle or a sea turtle crawl, Jekyll Island requests that you call the sea turtle hotline at (912) 215-5046.
When is sea turtle season in Georgia?
Jekyll Island beaches will be in full loggerhead-sea-turtle-nesting season from May through October.
And this season will be FULL of sea turtles! Last year alone, Jekyll Island recorded 131 nests, and more than 11,300 hatchlings made their journey to the ocean.
About Jekyll Island
Jekyll Island is one of Georgia’s barrier islands, and a beautiful coastal destination for lots of vacationing Atlantans.
Whether you’re looking for a relaxing resort experience or a fun trip to Georgia’s iconic Driftwood Beach, there’s something for everyone to enjoy at Jekyll.
Be mindful of our little shelled friends this sea turtle season! And maybe even pay them a visit down at the coast!