Returning Home
From May to October each year, Fripp Island experiences a wonder of nature. It is during this time that the loggerhead sea turtles return to nest. Each year dozens of adult females come ashore, on various stretches of beach, to lay a clutch of 100 or more eggs. Many of these females were born on the island only to return some 20 to 30 years later to nest.
Each female will nest and lay eggs 3-5 times each season, digging an egg chamber near dunes away from rising tides. After laying her eggs, the turtle will return to the ocean before returning 12 to 14 days later to build another nesting spot. After the final nesting, turtles return to the ocean and will repeat the cycle every 2-4 years.
Hatchlings
A sea turtle egg will incubate in about 60 days. This varies a bit with temperature, with warmer conditions leading to faster development of the embryos. Interestingly, cooler sand has a tendency to produce more males, while warmer sand produces more females. Once an embryos has fully developed, the hatchlings break out of their shell using “a temporary, sharp egg-tooth, called a ‘caruncle.’ The caruncle is an extension of the upper jaw that falls off soon after birth.” (conserveturtles.org) Now out of their shells, the little hatchlings somehow know to emerge from the sand. Usually emerging at night when the temperature is milder, they dig their way up through about 18” of sand. As a group, the newborns paddle their way to the top before beginning their journey across the sand. This process of emerging can take several days.
Heading to Sea
The journey to the sea is no small task for these little creatures. They must move quickly so as not to get dehydrated or become prey to birds or crabs. As mentioned earlier, many sea turtles return to the beach where they were born. Some scientists believe this is due to a turtle’s ability to read the earth’s magnetic field, while others believe the hatchlings takes an imprint of their birth beach, smell, sound, even celestial cues, while making the trek from nest to water. All pretty amazing, nonetheless.
What to Know
Here on Fripp Island, we are blessed to be a key location for loggerhead nesting along the east coast of the US. With that, it is our responsibility to be good stewards of their habitat and respect their space. To that effort we have the Fripp Island Loggerhead Patrol, made up of volunteers, which monitors and marks nests along the beaches each day throughout the season.
See their photo albums and logs:
Thank you, Fripp Island Loggerhead Patrol! We really appreciate all of your hard work.
Follow FILP on Facebook!
If you are fortunate and see an adult female nesting, or traveling to or from the ocean, it is very important to maintain a 20’ distance and be sure to stay clear of her path. Also, do not use flashlights while walking on the beach. If you encounter the hatchlings rising from the sand, or making their way to the water, do not get near and, again, do not use any lighting. Hatchlings rely on the moon over the water to guide their way and can get easily turned around if another light source is nearby.
If you see a hatchling moving away from the ocean, DO NOT pick it up, as it is against federal law to touch a sea turtle without the proper permit. If you see a hatchling and are worried about the direction in which it is moving, please call Fripp Island Security or the Activity Center at (843)-838-1516. (Source: Fripp Island Resort)
The wonders of Fripp island are abundant and the seasonal nesting of loggerhead sea turtles is no exception. Enjoy from a distance and share in the amazing process that has been going on for more than 100 million years!
🌊 An incredible interaction between a leatherback and a loggerhead just offshore 💙 Video taken by marissa_wil. Check out her page for more amazing wildlife content.🦈
#seaturtle #turtle #leatherbackturtle #leatherback #loggerhead #loggerheadturtle #ocean #nature #wildlife #naturephotography #photography #video #offshore #water #oceans #wildlifephotography #water #oceanlife #saveourplanet #florida #mothernature #instadaily #instagram #instagood #ig #igers #igdaily #igtravel
#reels #reelsinstagram
🌊 An incredible interaction between a leatherback and a loggerhead just offshore 💙 Video taken by marissa_wil. Check out her page for more amazing wildlife content.🦈
#seaturtle #turtle #leatherbackturtle #leatherback #loggerhead #loggerheadturtle #ocean #nature #wildlife #naturephotography #photography #video #offshore #water #oceans #wildlifephotography #water #oceanlife #saveourplanet #florida #mothernature #instadaily #instagram #instagood #ig #igers #igdaily #igtravel
#reels #reelsinstagram
#loggerhead #loggerheads #loggerheadturtle #ucfturtlelab #turtle #seaturtle #seatirtleconservation #beachlife #beachvibes #letthenestingseasonbegin
#loggerhead #loggerheads #loggerheadturtle #ucfturtlelab #turtle #seaturtle #seatirtleconservation #beachlife #beachvibes #letthenestingseasonbegin
𝕐𝕠𝕦 𝕓𝕖𝕥𝕥𝕖𝕣 𝕨𝕠𝕣𝕜, 𝔹.
Dalyan, one of the most beautiful regions ever visited in Türkiye 🤩… among sea turtles, channels, lakes, beaches, historical sites, and a slow paced life! 🧘♀️
.
.
.
.
#dalyan #köyceğiz #koycegiz #dalyanköy #seaturtle #seaturtles #seaturtlelove #caretta #loggerheadturtle #boat #boatlife #boating #kaunos #romanempire #antique #remains #goat #cycling #cyclist #lake #lakes #landscape #turk #turkey #turkiye #turkey🇹🇷 #türk #goturkey #visitturkey
𝕐𝕠𝕦 𝕓𝕖𝕥𝕥𝕖𝕣 𝕨𝕠𝕣𝕜, 𝔹.
Dalyan, one of the most beautiful regions ever visited in Türkiye 🤩… among sea turtles, channels, lakes, beaches, historical sites, and a slow paced life! 🧘♀️
.
.
.
.
#dalyan #köyceğiz #koycegiz #dalyanköy #seaturtle #seaturtles #seaturtlelove #caretta #loggerheadturtle #boat #boatlife #boating #kaunos #romanempire #antique #remains #goat #cycling #cyclist #lake #lakes #landscape #turk #turkey #turkiye #turkey🇹🇷 #türk #goturkey #visitturkey
This poor loggerhead sea turtle did not make it after getting hurt by someone on a boat. If you don’t know I absolutely adore sea turtles and want to protect them… it’s so important to keep them safe as there are only 7/40 species of sea turtles left and they are endangered species. It’s mating season for them so if you know anybody who’ll go on the boat, please be careful of them 🤧. #seaturtle #loggerheadturtle
This poor loggerhead sea turtle did not make it after getting hurt by someone on a boat. If you don’t know I absolutely adore sea turtles and want to protect them… it’s so important to keep them safe as there are only 7/40 species of sea turtles left and they are endangered species. It’s mating season for them so if you know anybody who’ll go on the boat, please be careful of them 🤧. #seaturtle #loggerheadturtle
The bulls showed out on Sunday afternoon. Brought a sandbar and some lemons too, oh and a loggerhead sea turtle. What will we see this weekend?? #sharkaddicts #bullsharks #sharks #sharkdiving #sharklife #bulls #florida #jupiter #sonyalpha #sonya7iii #loggerheadturtle #seaturtle
The bulls showed out on Sunday afternoon. Brought a sandbar and some lemons too, oh and a loggerhead sea turtle. What will we see this weekend?? #sharkaddicts #bullsharks #sharks #sharkdiving #sharklife #bulls #florida #jupiter #sonyalpha #sonya7iii #loggerheadturtle #seaturtle
Had a very large loggerhead come up to inspect our boat.
Such majestic creatures!
🐢
🐢
🐢
#loggerheadturtle #loggerheadseaturtle #fromthedepths #magestic #wildlifeencounters
Had a very large loggerhead come up to inspect our boat.
Such majestic creatures!
🐢
🐢
🐢
#loggerheadturtle #loggerheadseaturtle #fromthedepths #magestic #wildlifeencounters
Just 30 seconds of Henry eating lettuce to brighten up your morning 🙌🏻 🥬
•
•
•
•
•#seaturtle #ocean #animals #turtle #rescueanimals #rescue #loggerhead #loggerheadturtle #greenturtle #marinebiology #marinelife #oceananimals #ocean #turtle #seaturtle #seaturtles #oceanart #conservation #rescue #rescueturtle #animals #oceanartist #animalrescue #greenseaturtle #hawksbill
Just 30 seconds of Henry eating lettuce to brighten up your morning 🙌🏻 🥬
•
•
•
•
•#seaturtle #ocean #animals #turtle #rescueanimals #rescue #loggerhead #loggerheadturtle #greenturtle #marinebiology #marinelife #oceananimals #ocean #turtle #seaturtle #seaturtles #oceanart #conservation #rescue #rescueturtle #animals #oceanartist #animalrescue #greenseaturtle #hawksbill
Tough start! This loggerhead hatchling was off to a tough start when it emerged from the nest. Alone. In the middle of the day. Hatchlings are much more likely to survive if they emerge with their siblings and make their first journey to the ocean together.
#turtle #loggerheadturtle #hatchling #greatbarrierreef #gbrmarinepark #qld #queensland #australia #wildlife #wildlifephotography #marinelife #heronisland #sonyalphaanz #sony #sonyalpha #abcmyphoto #bbcearth #earthcapture #natgeoyourshot #nature #ocean #myocean #thisisqueensland abcaustralia
Tough start! This loggerhead hatchling was off to a tough start when it emerged from the nest. Alone. In the middle of the day. Hatchlings are much more likely to survive if they emerge with their siblings and make their first journey to the ocean together.
#turtle #loggerheadturtle #hatchling #greatbarrierreef #gbrmarinepark #qld #queensland #australia #wildlife #wildlifephotography #marinelife #heronisland #sonyalphaanz #sony #sonyalpha #abcmyphoto #bbcearth #earthcapture #natgeoyourshot #nature #ocean #myocean #thisisqueensland abcaustralia
El centro loggerheadmarinelifecenter es uno los centros de conservación de los océanos y de las tortugas marinas más importante de Florida y lo tenemos a 5 min de nuestro homeexchangecom
Todo esto (y algo más) es lo que aprendimos de las tortugas bobas en nuestra visita:
👩🔬”Caretta caretta” es el nombre científico de la tortuga boba.
🏝️Las tortugas bobas regresan a la playa donde nacieron para dejar sus huevos y pueden dejar hasta 100 huevos en sus nidos.
🐢Sus huevos tardan unos 60 días en eclosionar.
🌔 Suelen eclosionar en luna llena o creciente, así las baby sigue la luz de la luna y su reflejo en el agua para llegar al mar.
📏 Las tortugas bobas recién salidas del cascarón miden solo 5 cm de largo.
🕳️ Si juegas a hacer agujeros en la playa ciérralos antes de marchar para que las baby tortugas no caigan en ellos en su camino al mar..
📈Estas tortugas crecen hasta los 90 cm, alcanzan más de 135 kilos y pueden vivir más de 50 años.
🛥️ Los barcos causan más lesiones y muertes a las tortugas marinas que los tiburones.
Ellen Giordano tiene un libro infantil fantástico para explicar esto y que los más peques puedan conocer mejor a las tortugas y sepan cómo protegerlas.
#tortugasbobas #tortugasmarinas #loggerheadturtle #floridaturtles #floridaturtlesofinstagram
El centro loggerheadmarinelifecenter es uno los centros de conservación de los océanos y de las tortugas marinas más importante de Florida y lo tenemos a 5 min de nuestro homeexchangecom
Todo esto (y algo más) es lo que aprendimos de las tortugas bobas en nuestra visita:
👩🔬”Caretta caretta” es el nombre científico de la tortuga boba.
🏝️Las tortugas bobas regresan a la playa donde nacieron para dejar sus huevos y pueden dejar hasta 100 huevos en sus nidos.
🐢Sus huevos tardan unos 60 días en eclosionar.
🌔 Suelen eclosionar en luna llena o creciente, así las baby sigue la luz de la luna y su reflejo en el agua para llegar al mar.
📏 Las tortugas bobas recién salidas del cascarón miden solo 5 cm de largo.
🕳️ Si juegas a hacer agujeros en la playa ciérralos antes de marchar para que las baby tortugas no caigan en ellos en su camino al mar..
📈Estas tortugas crecen hasta los 90 cm, alcanzan más de 135 kilos y pueden vivir más de 50 años.
🛥️ Los barcos causan más lesiones y muertes a las tortugas marinas que los tiburones.
Ellen Giordano tiene un libro infantil fantástico para explicar esto y que los más peques puedan conocer mejor a las tortugas y sepan cómo protegerlas.
#tortugasbobas #tortugasmarinas #loggerheadturtle #floridaturtles #floridaturtlesofinstagram
Her name is Caretta. She and I are the same age! She has lived a full life already and her story alone was worth the trip to the aquarium! #southcarolinaaquarium #seaturtle #loggerhead #loggerheadturtle
Her name is Caretta. She and I are the same age! She has lived a full life already and her story alone was worth the trip to the aquarium! #southcarolinaaquarium #seaturtle #loggerhead #loggerheadturtle
The Fripp Island Resort offers a Turtle Walk nature program to visit the nests and learn about these magnificent creatures. May through September.
☏ 843-838-1516