Edisto sea turtles are one of the island’s quiet summer wonders. Loggerheads, a federally threatened species, crawl out of the surf on summer nights to lay eggs on Edisto Beach, in Edisto Beach State Park and on the undeveloped beaches at Botany Bay and Edingsville. About two months later, the hatchlings dig out and race for the ocean, usually under cover of darkness.
Nesting season runs from May 1 to October 31, and the Town of Edisto Beach has rules for lights, holes and beach gear during those months. Here’s what to know so you can enjoy the beach without putting nests at risk.
At a Glance
- Season: May 1 – October 31
- Main species: Loggerhead sea turtle (federally threatened)
- Lights: No light may shine on the beach during the season; turn off beach-facing lights at dusk
- Gear: Take down tents and remove chairs, umbrellas and toys at dusk; fill all holes
- Injured or dead turtle: SCDNR hotline, 1-800-922-5431
- Good to know: Nests are marked and monitored by trained volunteers
Sea Turtle Nesting on Edisto Beach
Female loggerheads come ashore at night, dig a nest above the high-tide line and lay a clutch averaging about 100 eggs. Then they cover the nest and return to the sea. The eggs incubate in the warm sand for roughly two months, and the hatchlings emerge together, usually at night, and head for the brightest horizon – which on a natural beach is the moonlit ocean.
That’s why artificial light is such a problem. Porch lights, flashlights and bright windows can pull hatchlings away from the water and toward roads and dunes, where they die from exhaustion, predators or cars. Nesting females can also be scared back into the water by lights and people.
Edisto Sea Turtle Nest Counts
Edisto and its neighboring beaches account for a large share of South Carolina’s nests. SCDNR has described Edisto Beach and Edisto Beach State Park as two of the state’s long-term index beaches, monitored the same way every year to track population trends. Loggerhead nest counts from SCDNR’s annual Loggerheadlines reports:
| Beach | 2023 | 2024 | 2025 |
|---|---|---|---|
| Edisto town beach | 186 | 148 | 126 |
| Edisto Beach State Park | 304 | 194 | 145 |
| Botany Bay Island | 164 | 128 | 144 |
| Botany Bay Plantation | 174 | 135 | 121 |
| Edingsville Beach | 38 | 47 | 47 |
| South Carolina total | 6,597 | 4,812 | about 3,900 |
Nest numbers rise and fall from year to year, which is normal for loggerheads because females don’t nest every season. In 2026, the first South Carolina nests of the year were reported in May at Edisto Beach State Park and Cape Romain, and the Edisto Beach turtle project passed 100 nests by late June. Final 2026 counts will appear in SCDNR’s next report.
Lights Out: The Edisto Beach Lighting Rule
From May 1 through October 31, the Town of Edisto Beach’s ordinance (Chapter 10 of the town code) says no light may illuminate the beach. In practice:
- Turn off any outdoor lights visible from the beach at dusk, including porch, deck and pool lights.
- Close blinds and curtains on beach-facing windows after dark.
- Don’t use flashlights, phone lights or camera flashes on the beach at night during the season.
- In Edisto Beach State Park, no lights are allowed on the beach at night from May through October.
If you’re renting a beachfront house, check the outdoor light switches on your first evening.
Beach Rules That Protect Nests
- Fill your holes. Fill in holes and level sandcastle moats before you leave. The town requires holes deeper than 12 inches to be filled, and open holes can trap nesting females and hatchlings.
- Clear the beach at dusk. Take down tents and canopies, and move chairs, umbrellas and toys at least 10 feet above the high-tide line or take them home. Tents may not stand on the beach from sunset to sunrise, and property left on the beach becomes town property.
- Pick up litter. Plastic bags, balloons and fishing line can entangle turtles or be mistaken for food.
- Leave nests alone. Never touch or move eggs, and stay outside the posts and tape around marked nests.
- Keep dogs leashed. Dogs must be leashed on the town beach from May 1 to October 31, and you must pick up after them.
- Stay off the dunes. Many nests sit near the base of the dunes, and dune plants hold the beach together.
If You See a Nesting Turtle or Hatchlings
Seeing a loggerhead nest is rare and special, and how you behave matters. Stay well back and stay low, keep quiet, and don’t shine any light or take flash photos. Never block her path to or from the water, and don’t touch her. Let her finish and return to the sea on her own.
If you come across hatchlings, don’t pick them up or carry them to the water. Hatchlings need the crawl across the sand. Keep lights off, keep people and pets back, and let them find their own way. If hatchlings are heading away from the ocean, toward lights or a road, call for help.
Who to Call
- Injured, stranded or dead sea turtle: SCDNR sea turtle hotline, 1-800-922-5431
- Disoriented hatchlings or other problems at night: Colleton County non-emergency dispatch, (843) 549-2211
- Emergencies involving people: 911
- Questions about town rules: Town of Edisto Beach, (843) 869-2505, Monday–Friday 8 a.m.–4:30 p.m.
The town’s loggerhead sea turtle page has more information.
Edisto Sea Turtle Volunteers
Nests on Edisto are found, marked and monitored by two volunteer groups credited by SCDNR: the Edisto Beach Loggerhead Turtle Project on the town beach (which the town calls the Turtle Patrol), and volunteers with Edisto Beach State Park and the Friends of Edisto Beach State Park in the park. During the season, volunteers patrol the beach, protect nests and record how they hatch. To get involved, ask through the Town of Edisto Beach or the state park office (843-869-2156).
Edisto Beach State Park also runs turtle-themed programs; its fall 2026 calendar included a weekly Turtle Talk on Thursdays. Programs require pre-registration at 843-869-4430. See Edisto Beach State Park for more.
Edisto Sea Turtle FAQ
When is sea turtle season on Edisto Beach?
Nesting season and the lighting rules run from May 1 to October 31. Statewide, the first nests usually appear in late April or May, and hatchlings can still emerge into the fall.
Can I watch a sea turtle nest hatch?
Hatching is unpredictable, so seeing one is a matter of luck. If you come across one, keep your distance, keep lights off and let the hatchlings reach the water on their own.
What happens if I leave my beach gear out overnight?
Under town rules, property left on the beach becomes the property of the Town of Edisto Beach. During turtle season, gear left out also blocks nesting females and hatchlings.
Can I use a flashlight on the beach at night?
Not during turtle season. The town says no light may illuminate the beach from May 1 to October 31, and the state park doesn’t allow lights on the beach at night May through October.
Who do I call about an injured sea turtle?
Call the SCDNR sea turtle hotline at 1-800-922-5431.
Plan Your Trip
Read our Edisto Beach public access and rules guide before your first beach day, and review swimming safety. If you like dawn beach walks, combine them with a hunt for shark teeth and shells. Loggerheads also nest on the wild beach at Botany Bay, where the shorebirds are worth a look too – see bird watching on Edisto. Families can find more ideas in things to do on Edisto with kids.