One of the ongoing projects on St. Vincent Island is the Sea Turtle Patrol. USFWS (U.S. Fish & Wildlife Service) employees and trained volunteers are working hard to protect our sea turtle population. Each year from May through October, the beaches are checked for sea turtle nests and hatches. Whenever a new nest is found, the species of the sea turtle is determined by examining the characteristics of the tracks the turtle left. Three species of sea turtles nest on St. Vincent – Loggerhead, Green, and Leatherback. The majority of the nests on the island belong to the Loggerhead sea turtles.

            When a nest is found, the staff member or volunteer dig down in the sand to locate the eggs. If eggs are found, a wire cage is placed over the nest to deter wild hog or raccoon predation. The nests are marked, recorded, and then monitored for signs that baby turtles (hatchlings) have emerged. Much data is collected so that trends,egg counts, and survival rates can be documented.