Record turnout at Tybee’s 2026 Turtle Trot 5K supports sea turtle conservation

TYBEE, Ga. (WTOC) - Hundreds of runners took to the shoreline Saturday morning for the 19th Annual Turtle Trot 5K Beach Run on Tybee Island.

A record-breaking 687 participants, ranging in age from 4 to 84, completed the 3.1-mile course along the beach, marking an almost 42% increase from last year.

Proceeds from the event support the Tybee Sea Turtle Project, a conservation effort through the Tybee Island Marine Science Center aimed at protecting loggerhead sea turtles and their hatchlings during nesting season, which begins May 1.

The project, permitted by the Georgia Department of Natural Resources, allows volunteers and staff to monitor nesting sites across the island and care for hatchlings before releasing them into the wild.

Organizers also introduced a new Adopt-A-Hatchling Program, giving supporters a way to contribute to conservation efforts year-round.

The science center’s resident turtles, Ossie and Goober, continue to play a role in educating visitors about threats to sea turtle populations and ongoing protection efforts.

Officials say more information about Ossie’s ocean release is expected later this summer.