Welcome to DeBordieu & Hobcaw S.C.U.T.E.
About S.C.U.T.E.
S.C.U.T.E. is a volunteer organization under the direction of the South Carolina Department of Natural Resources. We are dedicated to the preservation of sea turtles along the South Carolina coast. Click below or scroll down to our view mission to learn more
How you Can Help
There are many ways you can help in the conservation of South Carolina sea turtles. Simply educating yourself is the most important contribution you can make
Volunteers
S.C.U.T.E. depends on our volunteers! We’re always looking for enthusiastic and dedicated volunteers. If your interested in learning more then click below.
Meet the Crew
We work hard to ensure the safety of threatened loggerhead sea turtles along the South Carolina Coast. Meet some of the S.C.U.T.E. volunteers at DeBordieu & Hobcaw beaches to see what we do.
About S.C.U.T.E.
Loggerhead sea turtles (Caretta caretta) nest on South Carolina beaches May through October. S.C.U.T.E., which stands for South Carolina United Turtle Enthusiasts, is one of 31 volunteer sea turtle protection projects along our coastline under the direction of the South Carolina Department of Natural Resources. The 60 mile S.C.U.T.E. area stretches from North Inlet in Georgetown County to North Myrtle Beach in Horry County. DeBordieu and Hobcaw beaches typically account for 40-50% of the nests in this area.
Volunteers walk at sunrise during nesting season looking for the large turtle tracks leading from the ocean to the dunes and back. When tracks are found, clues are used to determine the nest area. Using pool cues or T bars, volunteers probe the sand to locate the soft area of the egg chamber. An average nest of 120 ping pong size eggs may need to be moved if the clutch is laid below the spring tide line or in the scarp of a dune. Nests are covered with a plastic mesh, staked to protect it from predators and a sign is posted with the nesting date.
At about 50 days of incubation, volunteers begin to look for a depression in the nest indicating hatching activity beneath. When a nest hatches, usually at about 55-60 days, hatchlings make a mad dash to the ocean following the phosphorescence of the waves as long as they are not lead astray by onshore lighting.
When a nest hatches, SCDNR requires us to wait 3 nights so as to give all hatchlings a chance to exit the nest. We then conduct a nest inventory and dig out the contents to determine the success of the nest. Inventory date, time and location are posted on the website. At the inventory, a volunteer tells visitors about the procedure and printed information is handed out. The nest contents are dug out and data is recorded. Sometimes live hatchlings are found in the nest that were not able to emerge on their own. Volunteers put the hatchlings on the beach and let them crawl to the ocean and ‘imprint’. At maturity, 25-30 years, female loggerheads will generally return to the beach of their birth to nest. However, recent DNA studies show some turtles will nest many miles from where they hatched.
Peace Sotheby’s International Realty kindly sponsors DeBordieu & Hobcaw S.C.U.T.E. Follow us here on the DeBordieu & Hobcaw S.C.U.T.E. website to stay informed with the latest news. You can also find links, references, photos and learn about the SC Aquarium’s Sea Turtle Hospital.
the latest news from S.C.U.T.E.
9/17 DEB17 Hatch – Inventory Thursday at 5:30!
Middle: Beth checked the 2 remaining Middle nests Friday-Sunday and reported they made it through TS Florence but had no change. Today, Walter reported the hatch at 52 days of DEB17 dated 7/27 located 40 yds. north Walkway #11! Beth went to see how much of a drop off from the sea wall the hatchlings […]
9/12 DEB16 Inventory results!
Middle: Wednesday morning, Beth and Betsy did the inventory of DEB16 dated 7/18 located 101 yds north Walkway #4. With no dead/live hatchlings, this nest had a success of 93% and was a great way to close out the season ahead of H. Florence! There are still 4 nests (2/Middle and 2/HOB) incubating on our […]
9/10 DEB15 Inventory results
Middle: SCDNR’s Charlotte Hope came to our DEB15 inventory tonight at Walkway#7 attended by a few volunteer and other enthusiasts. She made short order of digging out the nest with the assistance of Beth and Paula. With one live, frisky hatchling to release, the nest had a 76% success. This was our final inventory of […]
9/10 DEB15 Inventory at 5:30 today (note time change)!
Middle: We will inventory DEB15 dated 7/16 located 14 yds. north Walkway #7 (just north of Beach Villas) at 5:30 p.m. today. DNR’s Charlotte Hope will be at our inventory and use it as an inventory workshop. Due to H. Florence, we moved up the time to 5:30 so Charlotte can get back to Charleston.
9/7 DEB15 Hatches – Inventory Monday at 6:00 p.m.!
Middle: Beth and Marie found 35-40 tracks out of DEB15 dated 7/16 (3 days) located 14 yds. north Walkway #7! Beth said their timing was fortunate because the rain started 3 minutes later (photos). We will inventory this nest Monday at 6:00 p.m. DEB 18 HOB 6 SCUTE 65 SC 2736
9/6 DEB14 Inventory results!
North: We closed out the North for the season with the inventory of natural DEB14 located just north of North Beach Villas. We had great volunteer participation with 12 present in addition to a handful of other enthusiasts. This was used as an inventory workshop to learn/refresh some of the finer points of digging out […]
Want to learn More?
DNR & Other Resources
S.C.U.T.E. is a volunteer turtle protection project under the direction of the South Carolina Department
of Natural Resources. Click below to learn more about DNR along with other affiliates such as the SC Aquarium’s Sea Turtle Hospital.
Serving the Community
We take pride in serving the DeBordieu & Hobcow community. From morning beach walks to live inventories, our passion is to inform the public
You can Make a Difference
Want to help? You can make a donation through the South Carolina Aquarium’s Sea Turtle Hospital.
DeBordieu & Hobcaw S.C.U.T.E. is sponsored by:
