Sea Turtles on Hilton Head Island Weather Tropical Storm Debbie
HILTON HEAD ISLAND, SC – This year’s tropical storm, Debbie, left many worried about the impact it would have on the local sea turtle population and their nesting habitats. With Hilton Head Island reporting 195 sea turtle nests so far this season, a somewhat lower count than usual, the arrival of the storm added to existing concerns for this endangered species.
Despite the havoc caused by Tropical Storm Debbie, Sea Turtle Patrol Hilton Head Island reports that only one nest was lost to the storm. However, Amber Kuehn of the Patrol expressed her worries about the potential long-term effects of tidal inundation.
Fears for Long-Term Impact
“When we had ten inches of rain the beach can’t percolate that much water,” said Amber Kuehn. “It starts with standing water. If there’s standing water in the nest, it could be deadly. The hatchlings need a dry environment. There’s a gas exchange in the egg chamber. So, if that water is inundating the nest, when we go in to count and inventory, we might discover we have suffered major losses on the beach.”
“There’s no way to prevent it,” Amber added. “It’s nature, and it would have happened to them regardless. We do our best to mark the nest to get the human impact under control. But nature, you just can’t manage it so well.”
Hope for Remaining Nests
Sea turtle season extends through September. Since the storm, 74 turtles have successfully hatched. Still, Amber’s team keeps watch over 120 nests, hoping that they will withstand any further natural disasters and successfully produce life.
Hilton Head Island is an essential nesting area for sea turtles, and everyone remains hopeful that despite the tropical storm, their season will be a successful one.
