June 1, 2021
Welcome Mama Turtles!
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We're happy to report that the 2021 Turtle Nesting Season, which began on May 1, is off to a great start. Our dedicated volunteers are patrolling the beaches each morning and finding turtle crawls and nests. Possibly even more exciting, on May 29 some of our lucky volunteers came across a rare Kemp's Ridley sea turtle nesting on the beach! Check out the video to the left of the Kemp's Ridley returning to the ocean after laying her nest!
(Video Credit: Volunteer Ginger) |
So 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. First, she makes her way onto the beach and, if all goes well, she crawls to a point way beyond the high-tide line so that her eggs won’t be taken away with the tide. Then, she digs a “body pit” by rotating her body and using her flippers. She then cups her rear flippers to grab sand and dig out an egg chamber, or hole, in which she will lay her eggs. When her flippers can’t reach any deeper she’ll begin to lay her eggs. She will “drop” a few eggs at a time until she lays between 50 and 200 eggs (depending on the species of turtle). Once she is finished laying her eggs, she uses her rear flippers to fill in the egg chamber with sand and her body to gently pack it down. She then 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. 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!
Want to learn more? Click HERE to watch a video of the steps a mama turtle takes to lay her eggs.
~ The Volusia/Flagler Turtle Patrol
Tips for Sharing our Beaches with Sea Turtles
- Leave the beach the way you found it. Mama turtles can get trapped/injured in lawn chairs or stuck in holes dug on the beach. When leaving, remove obstacles that could get in their way by taking everything with you when you leave, filling in holes and knocking down sandcastles.
- Pick up your trash. Mama turtles may think your plastic bag is a yummy jellyfish and eat it, making her sick or killing her. Look around before you leave and place your trash in recycle/trash bins.
- Lights out. Lighting along A1A, beach bonfires and flashlights can confuse mama turtles, discouraging them from coming ashore to lay their eggs. If they are already on shore, they may become disoriented or be frightened away.
- Do not disturb nesting females. If you see a turtle coming ashore to nest, do not approach! Give her space and don't make loud noises or quick movements. If she gets scared and returns to the ocean, she may dump her eggs in the sea and the baby turtles will perish.
2021 Turtle Fest T-Shirts
AVAILABLE NOW!
AVAILABLE NOW!
Florida Sea Turtles
There are 5 species of sea turtles found along Florida's Beaches.
LOGGERHEADThe Loggerhead Turtle is the most common turtle on our beaches. She is named for her immense, block-like head and strong jaws.
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LEATHERBACKThe 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.
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GREENThe Green Turtle gets her name from the color of her fat. She is an herbivore, eating plants, sea grasses,
and algae. |
HAWKSBILLThe Hawksbill Turtle has a beautiful, distinct carapace (shell). It is tortoiseshell in color and almost heart-shaped.
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KEMP'S RIDLEYThe Kemp's Ridley is the most endangered sea turtle in the world. She is relatively small, weighing less than 100 pounds.
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If you find a sick or injured sea turtle, please do not place it back in the water.
Call the Florida Fish and Wildlife Conservation Commission at 1-888-404-FWCC (3922) for assistance.
Call the Florida Fish and Wildlife Conservation Commission at 1-888-404-FWCC (3922) for assistance.