UPDATE: Our sea turtles have hatched!

A sea turtle nest relocated from the beach at Ocean Lakes earlier this summer has hatched!

The nest, which has 119 eggs, was moved June 26 to a safer location at Myrtle Beach State Park, where volunteers could protect it and keep a close eye on it.

Now, the turtles are emerging! Experts will do an inventory on the nest at 7:15 a.m. Sunday on the beach at the state park, near boardwalk S4. 

Our Naturalist Brandy Cloos – who helped move the nest in June - will be on hand Sunday, and you can be there, too! At the least you’ll see eggshells and you MAY - no guarantee - see a live hatchling in the nest, which volunteers will guide to the ocean.

You will have to pay the usual admission to get in Myrtle Beach State Park ($5 adults, $3.25 for SC seniors ages 65 and older, $3 for ages 6-15, free for ages 5 and younger).

Park at Boardwalk S4, then head about 30 to 40 yards south on the beach. Look for the big crowd!

If you can’t be there Sunday or just want to learn more about sea turtles, stop by our Nature Center on Lovestone Drive.

Let's do all we can to protect these cute little guys!

If you go to the nest inventory Sunday, here are a few tips:

Please leave your pets at home.

Stay off the sand dunes and behind the blue rope near the nest.

Pitch in by picking up a few pieces of trash to help our wildlife.

Fill in any holes in the sand and smash sand creations to reduce the obstacles for the sea turtles headed to the ocean!