By: Tristin Harrell
As summer approaches and beach goers flock to the coast, but the barrier islands of Georgia are preparing for a different kind of visitor.
Georgia’s coastal waters are home to five of the world’s seven sea turtle species. The barrier islands house over 4000 nests for these creatures. Most of these nests are laid by the largest hard-shelled sea turtle species, the loggerhead sea turtle.
May 1, 2026 marks the first day in this year’s nesting season. From early May to late October, the animals will return to their home and lay eggs, a cycle that will be repeated by the hatchlings. However, the process is anything but simple and with human interference running rampant on the beaches, the sea turtles are facing an uphill battle.
Tybee Island recently lost over $12 million, which would have been used for beach renourishment. Beach renourishment is the process of pumping sand from the ocean floor to the beaches. For Tybee Island, this meant erosion will continue impacting their community.
“I’m expecting to see a lot more false crawls,” said Tybee Island Marine Science Center program director, Allison Caldwell. Caldwell described a false crawl to be a female turtle doing a U-turn on the beach. This would mean the soon-to-be mother turtle would not lay her eggs on Tybee’s shores.
False crawls can happen for a number of reason, not just a lack of sand. While long walks on the beach sounds nice, experts like Caldwell wish more people would exercise caution during sea turtle season.
“They’re very sensitive to light on the beach,” said Caldwell. “We don’t want to disorient them or spook them or stress them out in any way. If you’re going to be walking the beach at night, use the light of the moon, that’s definitely the best thing.”
Lights from flashlights and nearby buildings are disorienting for sea turtles, which may mistaken the light for the moon. Tybee Island currently has a “Lights Out” ordinance which requires all artificial lights be turned off after 10pm during nesting season.
Human interference happens throughout the day, not just when the sun goes down. Building sand castles and digging sandy holes has become quite synonymous with beach trips. These alterations are being left behind with no regard to animals, though.
“Fill in all your holes that are on the beach,” said Jekyll Island Sea Turtle Center director, Jaynie Gaskin. “Even if you think it’s a smaller hole, imagine being a little hatchling that’s only a couple inches long, and crawling down the beach, and falling into something and being stuck. That definitely makes them vulnerable to predators or even just dehydration when it’s really hot.”
Gaskin’s team at the center plays a pivotal role in the sea turtle conservation efforts on the coast. Part of the team exclusively works to protect the island and any nests that are found. Nests are then roped off to caution beach goers or relocated to protect the eggs. The other portion of the team works to educate the public through various outlets including a Turtle Trot 5k Walk/Run, which raises money for the center’s sea turtle rehabilitation program.
Most of the sea turtle teams across the barrier islands are staffed with volunteers who are passionate for the cause.
Amy Capello is one of those volunteers. Holding a bachelors and masters degree in biology, with a special interest in wildlife management and conservation; Capello views this opportunity as a way to share her passion and give back to her community.
“My favorite part of this work is the nest sitting,” said Capello. Nest sitting requires trained and authorized volunteers to watch over nests, typically close to hatching time.
“You’ve got 100 babies at your feet making their way down to the water under a starlit sky, its magic,” said Capello.
This magical experience is often interrupted by human impact. Recalling a time when a hatchling got stuck in a simple footprint, Capello wishes more people understood the delicate event.
Believing a symbiotic relationship between human and sea turtle is possible, the best ways beach goers can aid in nesting season is by advocating, educating and donating. Advocate for stricter beach rules during nesting season. Educate yourself and fellow beachgoers on important topics like limiting artificial lights, filling in any holes and picking up trash found along the coast. Donate to ethical wildlife centers that work to protect sea turtles and natural habitats.