{
  "id": 12956848,
  "title": "Peek inside Georgia’s record-setting sea turtle nesting season",
  "url": "https://urgent.news/2026/10/08/peek-inside-georgias-record-setting-sea-turtle-nesting-season",
  "topic": "science",
  "section": "Science",
  "published": "2026-10-08T21:15:59.000Z",
  "source": {
    "name": "Winnipeg Free Press",
    "slug": "winnipeg-free-press",
    "url": "https://www.winnipegfreepress.com/arts-and-life/life/greenpage/2026/10/08/peek-inside-georgias-record-setting-sea-turtle-nesting-season"
  },
  "original_language": "en",
  "account": "Loggerhead sea turtles laid a record 4,292 nests on Georgia beaches this year, a welcome recovery from a low of 358 nests in 2004. Loggerhead moms carry out the majority of the work, with support from an army of volunteers and professionals who patrol the coastline from Cumberland to Tybee nearly daily between May and August. On Wassaw Island, rotating groups of ecotourists work all night to document nesting turtles at this national wildlife refuge.\n\nAt dawn, Alli Caldwell of the Tybee Island Marine Science Center surveys the beach for the distinct looping tracks left by nesting loggerheads. By July 2, Tybee had already broken its previous record of 35 nests from four years prior, with 59 nests recorded overall. Despite some ghost crab predation, the turtles managed to produce healthy hatchlings.\n\nThe loggerhead turtles' resurgence is thanks to protections put in place before the turn of the century, including turtle excluder devices in shrimp nets and extensive beach monitoring since 1989. On Wassaw Island, volunteer efforts begin after sunset when sea turtles nest. Caretta Research Project, led by Kris Williams Carroll, conducts nighttime surveillance of the island's seven-mile beach, contributing to a 54-year-long saturation tagging program.",
  "summary": null,
  "key_points": [],
  "editors_take": null,
  "illustration": null,
  "coverage": {
    "outlets": 2,
    "also_reported_by": [
      {
        "outlet": "The Verge",
        "title": "ICE detainees in Georgia used the facility’s video calling software to expose the conditions inside",
        "url": "https://urgent.news/2026/10/08/ice-detainees-in-georgia-used-the-facilitys-video-calling-software-to",
        "published": "2026-10-08T19:45:00.000Z"
      }
    ]
  },
  "ai_generated": true,
  "disclaimer": "Summaries, key points and the editor’s take are written by software from other outlets’ reporting and may contain errors — always check the linked original."
}