A guide to Hilton Head Island and Bluffton area real estate, rentals and lifestyle
Issue link: https://www.e-digitaleditions.com/i/1160273
A s summer traffic eases up at Sea Pines Circle, watch your step on the beach! While biking, beachcombing or looking for your Hilton Head dream home, you may encounter lots of little tracks criss-crossing the sand, beelining toward the ocean. September is a busy time on the beaches for endangered Loggerhead Sea Turtle hatchlings. WHAT'S A LOGGERHEAD? Each May through October Hilton Head welcomes hundreds of Loggerhead Sea Turtles to nest along our 14 miles of beaches and sand dunes. Named for their relatively large heads, which support powerful jaws to feed on hard-shell prey such as conchs and whelks, Loggerhead adults are heart-shaped with reddish brown shells and they are the state reptile of South Carolina. e Sea Turtle Patrol Hilton Head Island, the local watchdog and marine conservation organization that tracks and protects our local sea turtle population, has recorded a record-breaking 463 nests as of mid-August, and that number may grow. In fact, Hilton Head also provided a home this summer to the second largest of the sea turtle species–a Green Sea Turtle nest was reported here. In addition, the world's rarest sea turtle, a Kemp's Ridley, also hatched on our shore. Each nest produces 100-120 eggs. is means, aer a 60-day incubation, there's a lot of little sea turtle babies trying to make their way to the warm Atlantic waters. PINK TAPE AND WOODEN STAKES Aer the 250-350 lb. mamas lumber on shore to lay their eggs, volunteers patrol in the pre-dawn hours to mark and date the nests and cordon the area off with wooden stakes and pink tape. Biologists say it's imperative humans don't disturb them as these eggs incubate in the sand. Hilton Head has recently passed legislation that has had a positive impact on the sea turtle babies. But still, 15 nests of turtles have died this year due to people leaving lights on. HOW YOU CAN HELP 1. Fill in any holes le by beach umbrellas, tents, and even sand castle fortresses. A hole the size of a melon is big enough for a turtle to fall into and not be able to get back out. 2. When the young turtles hatch, they find their way to the ocean by following the downward slope of the beach and skylight reflected off the ocean's surface. Because lights from beach houses are brighter than this natural light, they become disoriented and move inland towards the house lights instead of the ocean, where they die from dehydration and exhaustion, drown in pools, are hit by cars, or are taken by predators. LIGHTS OUT ALONG THE BEACH! It's the law. 3. If you bring it to the beach, remove it from the beach. Abandoned umbrellas, kites and debris le overnight on the beach can cause problems for turtles trying to find a spot to nest or they may get tangled up. For hatchlings, these obstacles can be impassable. 4. Honor the island's ZERO LITTER policy. Sea turtles and many other ocean animals routinely ingest plastics and other debris only to become ill and die. 5. Finally, if you come upon those turtle tracks on the beach, it's important that you DO NOT WALK in these. e Turtle Team use the tracks to locate the eggs. If the tracks and other nesting signs have been trampled, it makes it far more difficult to find the nest. Once the Turtle Team has investigated a crawl in the morning, large "X" marks are placed on the crawl so they know it is an old crawl the next day. Never disturb a sea turtle nest or a hatchling. To report disturbances, call SC Department of Natural Resources Hotline: 1-800-922-5431 day, night and weekends or Town of Hilton Head Island: 843-341-4690 weekdays. Find out more about the HHI Sea Turtle Patrol at www.facebook.com/hhiseaturtle/ By Lynne Riggs Anderson REALTOR/Accredited Buyers Agent Sea Turtle Super Fan Sea Pines Real Estate at the Beach Club ImagineHiltonHead.com Sea Turtle Traffic in September 8 J & J Real Estate Investments LLC I work 4 you!! Enjoy a spectacular view of the Atlantic Ocean from your pool, spa, or living room. This home features recent renovations, gourmet kitchen, 7 bedrooms/71/2 baths, second floor sitting area with wet-bar and balcony. The separation of living space ideal for large family gatherings, rental guests, or corporate retreats. 7 Bdrms/7–1/2 Baths List price: $2,350,000 Beautiful Charleston style townhouse with 10' ceilings & 5" crown molding. Features 3,216 HSF, 3 bedroom + den/guest bedroom, 3.5 baths, 2-car garage. Surround sound in Great Room, stereo in downstairs bedroom. Ideal "IN-LAW living /bedroom area on first floor and full bath which exits to outside covered porch. Large kitchen, comfortable master suite & sitting area, bath w large walk-in shower, double vanities. Laundry room is on 3rd level. elevator services all 3 levels. short stroll to the SC Yacht Club, marina, pool & tennis. OSCREA 3 Bdrms/3 Full Baths List price: $580,000 JERRY MCELROY (843) 384-3959 JERRYMCELROY1@YAHOO.COM 10 Singleton Shores | Singleton Shores Manor Hilton Head Island 10 Leeward Passage Hilton Head Island