Georgia Sea Turtle Center

09/03/2026

𝙏𝙝𝙪𝙧𝙨𝙙𝙖𝙮𝙨 𝙟𝙪𝙨𝙩 𝙜𝙤𝙩 𝙗𝙚𝙩𝙩𝙚𝙧! 🐢📚🎨
Join us on select Thursdays beginning in October for Turtle Tots! Participants will enjoy a fun story, hands-on craft, and special meet-and-greet with an animal ambassador.
Reserve your tickets now ⬇️

Visit the Georgia Sea Turtle Center on select Thursdays beginning in October for Turtle Tots! Participants will enjoy a story, craft, and meet-and-greet with

09/02/2026

When sea turtle hatchlings emerge from their nest, we call this event a “boil.” The term comes from how the hatchlings move beneath the sand, making the surface look as though it's bubbling or “boiling." There's nothing quite like witnessing these hatchlings begin their journey to the ocean! 🐢

🚨 Please remember that sea turtle hatchlings are federally protected, and it is illegal to touch them without the proper permits. Keep your distance and do not touch or assist them in leaving the nest or reaching the ocean. If you believe a sea turtle hatchling needs help, please call our Wildlife Response Hotline at 912-222-5992.

08/31/2026

𝐋𝐢𝐬𝐭𝐞𝐧 𝐔𝐩 ‼️
We don’t say this often, but our hearts are heavy. Occasionally we find ourselves in the position of needing to treat patients beyond turtles, and earlier this month it was a diamondback rattlesnake named Xeric (prn. “Zeric”). And, he had a purpose.

Sadly, Xeric was crossing one of our roads and was intentionally run over. Not just once, but multiple times. And yes, we know with certainty it was intentional. But, we are here to tell you the age-old saying "the only good snake is a dead snake" is nothing but a myth. Unfortunately, in this case, this philosophy brought harm to a snake that meant no harm. Although snakes are resilient reptiles, Xeric’s injuries were too severe to survive them.

Was he a venomous snake? Yes. Are snakes often misunderstood? Yes. Did he have a purpose? 𝘼𝘽𝙎𝙊𝙇𝙐𝙏𝙀𝙇𝙔. Xeric was a young male still learning his way and contributing to critical, coastal rattlesnake research that allows our conservation department to better understand movement, behavior, and to support a peaceful coexistence with this species of snake.

Give snakes space and they will give you the same. Please remember, they have a purpose too.

Xeric
Found & Tagged: October 2024 | Deceased: August 16, 2026

08/28/2026

More diamondback terrapins have hatched from our incubators! Want to help release them into the marsh? Join us on September 18 for the Diamondback Terrapin Release. Get your tickets here: https://bit.ly/3y3Afck

08/27/2026

Do you remember when Arugula, Amelie, and Polli arrived at the Center on the same day? Well, after four months of rehabilitation, they are now back in the ocean! 👋

08/27/2026

𝐏𝐚𝐭𝐢𝐞𝐧𝐭 𝐔𝐩𝐝𝐚𝐭𝐞 🛟
Cebu recently completed the first in-water trial of a custom 3D-printed harness, and we're encouraged by the results! The harness provided the flexibility Cebu needed while allowing our rehabilitation team to take a more hands-off approach during physical therapy. This gives Cebu more opportunities to move independently, strengthen those front flippers, and practice natural swimming movements while still receiving the buoyancy needed to reach the surface for breaths.

08/24/2026

What do you think is going through Polli's head? 💭

08/21/2026

Mark your calendar ❄️
The Cold-Stunned Plunge returns November 28 and your registration helps support cold-stun rehabilitation and recovery for sea turtles! Sign up now ⬇️

Take a ‘cold-stunned' plunge into the chilly Atlantic in support of sea turtles on the Georgia coast!

08/20/2026

It’s true, Nest 206 was laid by a 𝐠𝐫𝐞𝐞𝐧 𝐬𝐞𝐚 𝐭𝐮𝐫𝐭𝐥𝐞! This is the first green sea turtle nest on Jekyll Island since 2015 🙌

08/20/2026

sea turtle hatchlings use their caruncle to get out of their leathery eggs? A caruncle is a tiny, temporary structure that is located on the tip of their nose. The hatchling uses this small bump to carefully rip open the shell in a process called pipping. This is the only purpose for the caruncle, so it will typically fall off within the first couple weeks of life.