BEAUFORT — Some 17 years after she suffered grievous wounds from a pair of boat strikes, a loggerhead turtle known as Mama Pritchard is still making little sea turtles.

Genetic testing has confirmed that the grand lady of the Lowcountry, at least as far as sea turtles go, has returned to nest on Pritchards Island this season. Her arrival was pretty much right on schedule, as she’s generally returned to lay eggs every other year since 2002.

“It’s exciting to see her come back every other year considering how badly she was injured a long time ago,” said Kim Ritchie, associate professor in the University of South Carolina Beaufort’s Department of Natural Science and the director of research for Pritchards Island.

A nest holding 148 of Mama Pritchard’s progeny was discovered in May by U

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