June 1, 2023
Welcome Mama Turtles!
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We're happy to report that the 2023 Turtle Nesting Season, which began on May 1, is off and running! Our dedicated volunteers are patrolling the beaches each morning and finding turtle crawls and nests. There have been a few bumps along the way, like the rough seas and high tides recently which washed out a few nests. There's also been construction occurring on the beach (especially in our southern range) repairing damaged buildings from last year's hurricanes. Mama turtles have been maneuvering around equipment and debris, but our volunteers are being diligent to mark their nests clearly so they won't be disturbed as construction continues. It's par for the course to run into some bumps each season and it seems we've found ours early!
You know that sea turtles are coming to shore to nest, but do you know what they do once they get here? 
​A female turtle can spend two hours or more on shore laying her eggs. ​
  1. ​​​She makes her way onto the beach, hopefully to a point beyond the high-tide line so that her eggs won’t be taken away with the tide.
  2. She digs a “body pit” by rotating her body and using her flippers.
  3. She cups her rear flippers to grab sand and dig out an egg chamber, or hole, in which she will lay her eggs.
  4. She “drops” a few eggs at a time until she lays between 50 and 200 eggs (depending on the species of turtle).
  5. She uses her rear flippers to fill in the egg chamber with sand and uses her whole body to gently pack it down.
  6. She camouflages her nest by using her flippers to throw sand in all directions around the nest to confuse predators about the location of the eggs.
  7. Finally, a tired mama turtle returns to the sea for some much-deserved rest.
Phew! It's a lot of hard work, but it will all be worth it when the baby turtles hatch later in the season!  ​
~Volusia/Flagler Turtle Patrol
Nesting Season Reminders:
  • Leave the beach the way you found it  -  pick up trash, fill in holes, and knock down sandcastles.
  • Lights out  -  including flashlights, bonfires, and lighting along A1A.
  • Don't disturb nesting mamas as they come to shore  -  keep your distance, no sudden movements.
  • Call for assistance  -  if you see someone harassing or crowding a sea turtle please call FWC at 888-404-3922.

Florida Sea Turtles

There are 5 species of sea turtles found along Florida's Beaches.

LOGGERHEAD

The Loggerhead Turtle is the most common turtle on  our beaches. She is named for her immense, block-like head and strong jaws.

LEATHERBACK

The Leatherback Turtle is the largest turtle. She has a leathery shell, can reach up to 7 feet in length and weigh up to 1,500 pounds.

GREEN

The Green Turtle gets her name from the color of her fat. She is an herbivore, eating plants, sea grasses,
​ and algae.

HAWKSBILL

The Hawksbill Turtle has a beautiful, distinct carapace (shell). It is  tortoiseshell in color and almost heart-shaped. 

KEMP'S RIDLEY

The Kemp's Ridley is the most endangered sea turtle in the world. She is relatively small, weighing less than 100 pounds.
If you find a sick or injured sea turtle, please do not place it back in the water as it may need medical assistance. 
Call the Florida Fish and Wildlife Conservation Commision at 1-888-404-FWCC (888-404-3922).