Baby sea turtles battle rising seas on Georgia's coast

Members of Georgia's sea turtle tracking team look out at the tracks of turtle hatchlings leading from a nest site to the ocean. (Courtesy of Georgia Sea Turtle Cooperative)

This coverage is made possible through a partnership with WABE and Grist, a nonprofit, independent media organization dedicated to telling stories of climate solutions and a just future.

Sea turtles are wrapping up their annual hatching season on Georgia’s beaches. After a strong summer of nesting, they’re hatching at a rate slightly below average due to predators and rising seas.

Loggerhead sea turtles — the most common in Georgia — are considered threatened in this part of the world, though their numbers have been improving in recent years thanks to conservation efforts.