Rick Scott was scanning the dim shoreline of Garden City just after dawn on a Wednesday in June when he spotted something rare—a green sea turtle nest, the first of South Carolina’s 2026 nesting season, quietly tucked above the high tide line. It was a small victory, but one that signaled something bigger: a surge in sea turtle activity across the state’s fragile coast. Since May 1, when nesting season officially began, volunteers have recorded 3,436 nests in just six weeks—a number that nearly matches the entire 2025 season’s total of 3,916. On Pawleys Island alone, 25 nests have already been documented as of June 15, surpassing last year’s full-season count of 20. These numbers aren’t just encouraging—they’re a testament to the quiet, tireless work of coastal stewards and the resilience of a species long under threat.
Sea turtles, which include loggerheads, greens, and the occasional leatherback, return to the same beaches where they were born to lay their eggs. But their journey is fraught with danger—both natural and human-made. That’s where groups like the South Carolina United Turtle Enthusiasts (S.C.U.T.E.) come in. Led by Rick Scott, this network of volunteers walks the beaches at dawn, tracking crawls, marking nests, and, when necessary, relocating vulnerable clutches to safer ground. Their work is critical, especially as coastal development and beachgoers unknowingly disrupt nesting efforts. Just days before the green turtle discovery, a female was startled back into the ocean by white lights on the beach—a preventable setback that can cost her an entire nesting cycle.
"So it’s really kind of crazy what they’re coming up earlier. We don’t know if it’s because of the water temperature or it’s just a cycle that the turtles go through. Just about the time we think we get them figured out, they throw us a curve," Scott said, his voice a mix of awe and humility. His words capture the mystery and unpredictability of nature, even as conservationists make progress. The rise in green turtle nests—only 15 were recorded statewide in 2025—suggests improving conditions, possibly due to better beach management and climate patterns.
But the real difference lies in community action. S.C.U.T.E. urges beachgoers to fill in sand holes, remove trash, and use red lights after dark—simple acts that dramatically reduce disorientation for hatchlings. These small changes, multiplied across miles of coastline, create a safer path from nest to sea. As the season stretches into summer, each new nest is a sign of hope—not just for sea turtles, but for the people who watch over them. And as the waves keep rolling in, so do the chances for a stronger, wilder future.