Save the loggerhead turtle!
- Loggerhead sea turtles are some of the world's most endangered animals and are considered "vulnerable" to extinction, per the World Wildlife Fund.
- Loggerheads have been protected under the US Federal Endangered Species Act since 1978 and due to extensive conservation efforts, annual deaths have been significantly reduced. But, we need to do more to ensure that loggerhead sea turtles continue to return to nest on Edisto beaches in the future.
Every dollar you give goes towards saving sea turtles
Where your money goes....
Edisto Beach Loggerhead Turtle Project is entirely staffed by volunteers. Your donation goes toward our efforts to help nesting turtles, hatchlings and stranded sea turtles make it to the ocean. Our efforts and those of other coastal groups like ours contribute to the preservation of these endangered creatures. We use donated funds to underwrite the costs of:
- Supplies used during turtle season to locate and mark nests
- Equipment and materials needed by volunteers for dawn and night patrol activities
- Printing and distribution of educational materials to inform the local public and visitors to Edisto’s beaches about endangered turtles and what everyone can do to keep them safe
- Rehabilitation of stranded sea turtles in cooperation with Charleston Aquarium Sea Turtle Care Center
Your donation saves turtles
In addition to supporting our local sea turtle protection team, your donation will help fund medical and rehabilitation costs of stranded and injured turtles.
Recently, Topaz and Caspian, juvenile Kemp’s ridley turtles, were injured when they swallowed fishing line after being caught by people fishing off the beach. EBLTP responds to strandings like these, arranges transport for the animals to the SC Aquarium Sea Turtle Care Center and contributes funding for their care.
Great news! Topaz fully recovered from her injuries and was released back into the ocean on October 15, 2021. Find out more about her stay at the SC Aquarium Sea Turtle Hospital.
Volunteering for the EBLTP
As a member of the Edisto Beach Turtle Patrol, you will walk a section of the beach with your team on one or more days per week, identifying turtle tracks and locating nests during nesting season and assisting hatchlings later in the season.
Section leaders report valuable nest and hatchling data to the SC Department of Natural Resources to analyze the success of conservation efforts all over the state.
New volunteer positions are full for the 2023 season but check back with us next spring for upcoming volunteer opportunities.
Donate to protect Edisto Beach sea turtles
If you prefer to donate by mail, please send a check or money order to:
Edisto Beach Loggerhead Turtle Project
PO Box 204
Edisto Island, SC 29438
We appreciate your support!
Edisto Beach Turtle Project is a 501(c)(3) non-profit organization and your donations are tax-deductible as allowed by law.
