(AP) -- Scientists say a record number of sea turtle nests have been found along the South Carolina coast.
The Post and Courier of Charleston reports that new figures from the Department of Natural Resources show more than 4,600 turtle nests were found during the 2012 nesting season.
Some of that has to do with more beaches being monitored and so more nests are being found.
Turtle program coordinator DuBose Griffin says there seem to be more turtles nesting although nesting can be cyclical.
At the six beaches with the most nests, almost 2,000 were recorded last year.
Nine years ago, those same beaches had only about 400 nests. Scientists are trying to figure out why nest numbers vary so widely over the years.
(Copyright ©2013 by The Associated Press. All Rights Reserved.)
