It’s sea turtle nesting season in the Sunshine State. That means if you’re heading to the beach, you may come across a nest roped off in the sand.
The Florida Fish and Wildlife Conservation Commission is asking the public to help ensure the tiny turtles reach the ocean by following a few simple guidelines.
SeaWorld sea turtle release After months of rehabilitation, SeaWorld returned 10 rehabbed, critically endangered sea turtles to the ocean in Brevard County on Monday. (SeaWorld Orlando)
SeaWorld sea turtle release The 10 juvenile turtles join more than 2,500 sick, stranded, and injured sea turtles rescued and rehabilitated by SeaWorld coast-to-coast since 1980. (Alex Stiner/SeaWorld Orlando)
SeaWorld sea turtle release The 10 juvenile turtles join more than 2,500 sick, stranded, and injured sea turtles rescued and rehabilitated by SeaWorld coast-to-coast since 1980. (Alex Stiner/SeaWorld Orlando)
Hiccup Five months after Hiccup’s rescue, the Brevard Zoo’s Sea Turtle Healing Center returned the turtle to the sea this week. (Brevard Zoo)
Sea turtle release The organizations released a green sea turtle named Schnitzel and a Loggerhead named Sunflower, weighing in at 130 pounds, back to the ocean. (Brevard County Fire Rescue)
Sea turtle release The organizations released a green sea turtle named Schnitzel and a Loggerhead named Sunflower, weighing in at 130 pounds, back to the ocean. (Brevard County Fire Rescue)
Sea turtle release The organizations released a green sea turtle named Schnitzel and a Loggerhead named Sunflower, weighing in at 130 pounds, back to the ocean. (Brevard County Fire Rescue)
Sea turtles Brevard County Two dozen sea turtles have washed up on shore in Brevard County as Tropical Storm Eta has been bringing wind and some rain to the area all day Monday. (WFTV Staff)
Sea turtle release A 370-pound loggerhead sea turtle named Perseverance made her return to the ocean on Tuesday after a three-month stay at the zoo’s Sea Turtle Healing Center. (Brevard Zoo)
Sea turtles More than a dozen sick sea turtles have been rescued in recent days and are receiving treatment at the Sea Turtle Healing Center at the Brevard Zoo. (WFTV Staff)
Sea turtle release A 370-pound loggerhead sea turtle named Perseverance made her return to the ocean on Tuesday after a three-month stay at the zoo’s Sea Turtle Healing Center. (Brevard Zoo)
Sea turtle release A 370-pound loggerhead sea turtle named Perseverance made her return to the ocean on Tuesday after a three-month stay at the zoo’s Sea Turtle Healing Center. (Brevard Zoo)
Sea turtle release A 370-pound loggerhead sea turtle named Perseverance made her return to the ocean on Tuesday after a three-month stay at the zoo’s Sea Turtle Healing Center. (Brevard Zoo)
Large distressed loggerhead turtle rescued out of ocean near Ormond Beach
Large distressed loggerhead turtle rescued out of ocean near Ormond Beach
Sea turtles released Staff with NASA, the National Park Service, Herndon Solutions Group, the center’s environmental services contractor, and others released Kemp’s ridley sea turtles into the Atlantic Ocean at the Canaveral National Seashore near Kennedy Space Center on Friday. (NASA)
Sea turtles released Staff with NASA, the National Park Service, Herndon Solutions Group, the center’s environmental services contractor, and others released Kemp’s ridley sea turtles into the Atlantic Ocean at the Canaveral National Seashore near Kennedy Space Center on Friday. (NASA/Chris Swanson/NASA)
Sea turtles released Staff with NASA, the National Park Service, Herndon Solutions Group, the center’s environmental services contractor, and others released Kemp’s ridley sea turtles into the Atlantic Ocean at the Canaveral National Seashore near Kennedy Space Center on Friday. (NASA)
Sea turtles released Staff with NASA, the National Park Service, Herndon Solutions Group, the center’s environmental services contractor, and others released Kemp’s ridley sea turtles into the Atlantic Ocean at the Canaveral National Seashore near Kennedy Space Center on Friday. (NASA)
Pay attention. Sea turtle nesting season lasts from March 1 to Oct. 31 in Brevard through Broward counties, where most leatherback nesting occurs, and May 1 to Oct. 31 in all other counties.
Allow hatchlings to crawl toward the ocean on their own. Any interference or disturbance, including getting too close, can cause hatchlings to become confused and lose their way.
Keep beaches dark for sea turtles. After sundown, turn off any lights not necessary for human safety. Use long-wavelength amber LED lamps for lights that must stay lit and shield lights, so they are not visible from the beach. Remember to close shades or curtains.
Don’t use flash photography. On the beach at night, don’t take flash photos or use bright cellphones or flashlights. This can cause turtles to become disoriented and crawl away from the ocean, putting them at risk.
Remember, sea turtles are protected by law. Stay back and give sea turtles space if you see one on the beach at night. Don’t touch a nesting turtle because it may leave the beach without nesting if disturbed. Remember, it is illegal to harm or disturb nesting sea turtles, their nests, eggs or hatchlings.
Clear the way at the end of the day. Beach furniture, canopies, boats and toys left behind on the sand can become obstacles that block nesting and hatchling turtles. Fill in any holes dug in the sand. Holes can trap turtles, and can also pose a safety risk for other beachgoers.
Before taking any action, report sea turtles that are sick, injured, dead, entangled or otherwise in danger to the FWC’s Wildlife Alert Hotline: 1-888-404-3922 or text Tip@MyFWC.com.
Sarah Wilson joined WFTV Channel 9 in 2018 as a digital producer after working as an award-winning newspaper reporter for nearly a decade in various communities across Central Florida.
