GUIDEPOSTS
Cape Romain Loggerhead Log:
Week 2
*All activity conducted with loggerhead sea turtles in Cape Romain National Wildlife Refuge is done under state and federal permits (MTP-563)
As of May 18, 2026, we have recorded 125 nests in Cape Romain National Wildlife Refuge
A Slow Start
Although loggerhead sea turtle nesting season “officially” began on May 1, it was a slow start to the season. The long, cool Spring has kept the water temperatures low, causing a slight delay in nesting numbers.
In the last week, nesting has quickly increased and as of May 19 we’re up to 125 nests on Lighthouse Island (45) and Cape Island (80).
I talked with USFWS wildlife biologist Abbie King today to see if she has a feel on how the season will go and she said that it’s too early to tell yet but that a slow start doesn’t necessary mean a low year. But she was quick to add that some of our biggest years started out on a similar tack.
You can follow along and get daily nesting numbers here.
Summer Interns Have Arrived
We welcomed our two Coastal Expeditions Foundation summer interns- Layla and Jenna- today and began orientation. We’ll share more about them next week in the Loggerhead Log! They’ll be working primarily with the Cape Romain Turtle Team, but you’ll also get a chance to meet them on the Bulls Island Ferry as they gain important experience connecting people with nature within a National Wildlife Refuge.
Current Needs
Although nearly half of South Carolina’s loggerhead sea turtle nests are laid in Cape Romain National Wildlife Refuge, there is very little federal funding to support it. The Coastal Expeditions Foundation raises about $40,000 per year through individual donations, symbolic nest adoptions, fundraisers and grants to pay the seasonal salaries of the biologists and interns.
They also have basic needs like drybags, bike pumps, tire sealant, pens and other materials that fall outside this scope. There is an immediate need to fulfill the Amazon Wish List that the CE Foundation has set up. Items will directly ship to Coastal Expeditions and we will get them to the team.
