Updated November 2026. Sea turtle season on Edisto Beach runs May 1 through October 31.
Every summer, loggerhead sea turtles crawl out of the Atlantic to nest on Edisto Beach, at Botany Bay, at Edisto Beach State Park and on the barrier islands nearby. Loggerheads are a threatened species protected by federal, state and Town law, and Edisto’s volunteers, the Town and visitors all play a part in getting the hatchlings safely to sea. Here’s what to expect and how you can help.
When Turtles Nest and Hatch
- May to mid-August: female loggerheads come ashore at night to lay their eggs.
- About two months later: the eggs hatch, so hatchlings emerge from July through the end of October.
- October 31: the Town’s sea turtle rules end for the year.
How a Loggerhead Nests
The female crawls slowly out of the water and well above the waterline. Using her strong back flippers, she digs a pit deep enough to hold her eggs, about a hundred of them. Once the last egg is laid, she covers the clutch with sand, smooths the area with her shell, flings sand around to disguise the nest, and crawls back into the ocean. Most people never see a turtle nest, but you may spot her tracks in the sand the next morning.
A nesting turtle uses an enormous amount of energy coming ashore. Lights, noise, people and things left on the beach can make her give up and return to the water without nesting, sometimes dropping her eggs in the ocean.
Hatchlings and Light
Hatchlings dig out of the nest, usually at night, and head for the brightest horizon, which on a natural beach is moonlight reflecting off the water. Any artificial light, from street lamps and porch lights to flashlights, headlights and cell phones, can turn them the wrong way, toward the dunes and the road. Hatchlings that don’t reach the water are often taken by birds and crabs, or dry out once the sun comes up.
That’s why lights matter so much on Edisto. The Town has switched the streetlights along the beach to amber, turtle-friendly fixtures, and it asks every house and visitor to keep the beach dark.
Sea Turtle Season Rules (May 1–October 31)
- Keep the beach dark. No light may shine on the beach at night. Turn off beach-facing lights at dusk and close the curtains or blinds. Don’t use flashlights, phone lights or flash photography on the beach at night.
- Fill your holes. Fill in holes and flatten sandcastle moats before you leave. Holes trap nesting turtles and hatchlings (and trip people).
- Clear the beach. Move chairs, umbrellas and toys at least 10 feet above the high tide line, take tents down by dusk, and carry out all trash. Bring an extra bag and pick up what others left behind.
- Hands off. Never touch or move turtles, eggs, nests or hatchlings, and keep your distance from marked nests. Hatchlings don’t need help reaching the water.
- Leash your dog. Dogs must be leashed on the beach May 1 through October 31. Keep them away from nests.
See every beach rule in our guide to Edisto Beach rules.
Marked Nests and Edisto’s Turtle Volunteers
Edisto’s volunteer turtle patrol walks the beach early every morning in season, looking for tracks and new nests. Nests are marked with wooden stakes and orange tape. As a nest gets close to hatching, volunteers may build a low barrier or “runway” from the nest toward the water to help guide the hatchlings. If you are lucky enough to see a nest hatch, watch from a distance, in the dark and without a flash.
Want to learn more? Edisto Beach State Park offers ranger-led nature programs, including sea turtle programs in season. Check the park’s program calendar or call the park office.
Other Sea Turtles off Edisto
Loggerheads are by far the most common nesting turtle in South Carolina. Leatherbacks, the largest sea turtles, with adults often weighing more than 1,000 pounds, are seen offshore in spring and fall when they feed on cannonball jellyfish, but they very rarely nest here. A leatherback on the beach may be sick or injured, so report it.
How to Report a Problem
- Stranded, injured or dead sea turtle, or a disturbed nest: call the SCDNR hotline at 1-800-922-5431 (24 hours). Note the exact location and nearest beach access, and if the turtle is alive, stay with it until help arrives.
- Problems on the Edisto town beach: Colleton County non-emergency dispatch, 843-549-2211.
More Edisto wildlife: dolphins, manatees and what you’ll find washed up on the beach. If you’d like to see turtle nesting at its most natural, visit Botany Bay.
