Loggerhead sea turtles enjoyed a record nesting season in Georgia this year.

Loggerhead sea turtles enjoyed a record nesting season in Georgia this year.

Loggerhead sea turtles are wrapping up a record nesting and hatching season on the Georgia coast.

 

More than 3,900 turtles nested on Georgia beaches this year, the most ever. 

 

Although some nests were lost to Hurricane Dorian, more than 60% produced hatchlings. Experts said that is a good rate.

 

Mark Dodd with the state Department of Natural Resources said conservation efforts that began more than 30 years ago are finally paying off as the turtles saved then come home to nest. He said there’s a lesson there.

 

“If you allow that species to decline, it takes a lot of time and energy to recover that population,” Dodd said.

 

He said scientists will keep monitoring turtle numbers to see if the current upward trend continues.

 

Tags: sea turtles  loggerhead  Department of Natural Resources  Augusta  Atlanta  Georgia  Macon  Savannah