Rare sea turtles pass 50-year recovery milestone in Georgia

Strong nesting season reported

In this 2016 photo, made available by the Georgia Department of Natural Resources, Avery Young, left, and Melissa Fry, relocate a sea turtle nest to a more protected site on Cumberland Island, Ga. Rare loggerhead sea turtles have reached a conservation milestone on the coast of Georgia. The Georgia Department of Natural Resources says more than 2,890 loggerhead sea turtle nests have been counted this summer on beaches along the state's 100-mile coast. - photo by Associated Press

Sea Turtle Nesting Ledb 2 — In this 2016 photo, made available by the Georgia Department of Natural Resources, Avery Young, left, and Melissa Fry, relocate a sea turtle nest to a more protected site on Cumberland Island, Ga. Rare loggerhead sea turtles have reached a conservation milestone on the coast of Georgia. The Georgia Department of Natural Resources says more than 2,890 loggerhead sea turtle nests have been counted this summer on beaches along the state's 100-mile coast. - photo by Associated Press

SAVANNAH — Rare loggerhead sea turtles reached a conservation milestone on the coast of Georgia in the midst of a strong nesting season on southern Atlantic beaches. Georgia wildlife officials announced this week that more than 2,890 loggerhead nests have been counted this summer along the state's 100-mile coast. Not only is that a new record for Georgia — smashing last year's record count by more than 550 nests — but it also surpasses the state's long-term recovery goal for the species.

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