Sea Turtle Nesting

It's sea turtle nesting season, and everyone knows what that means — turn off your lights at night. Flipping your light switch is an easy way to feel like an environmental superstar, but what else can you do to support these little turtles?

While sea turtle population numbers seem to be steadying as a whole, experts say this does not necessarily mean they have been saved from endangerment.

Residents and visitors can help protect vulnerable nesting sea turtles this spring and summer while visiting Florida’s coastal habitats.

The record-setting start to 2023’s nesting season was real, but extreme weather events linked to climate change ending in a sad and bleak reproductive cycle.

Each year, between May and October, threatened and endangered sea turtles create their nests along Pinellas County's beaches.

Despite the large numbers, biologists say turtles face threats from such factors as reduced beaches as sea levels rise, and and more powerful tropical storms.

More than 1,000 loggerhead nests were counted on Sanibel and Captiva islands. Research shows Sanibel is averaging about five times more loggerhead nests compared to the 1970s and ‘80s.

“It’s amazing how a few degrees makes such a huge difference.”

Hurricane Ian decimated Southwest Florida beaches last September, but it does not bother sea turtles this summer: the nesting season is on track to be one of the best in recent years

Franklin County was spared significant property damage during Tropical Storm Fred, but the storm decimated sea turtle nests along its beaches.

Part of the panhandle is on track to have one of the worst sea turtle nesting seasons in recent history. That's according to a volunteer group that monitors turtle nesting.

Teams from Manatee County surveying damage found minor flooding along the Myakka River and the barrier islands, where some turtle nests were affected.