September 1, 2022
2022 Nesting Season is setting records!
You may have heard through the grapevine that 2022 has been a really great nesting season for the Volusia/Flagler Turtle Patrol. Do you want to know exactly how great? Volusia County maintains a Sea Turtle Season Dashboard with graphs and charts showing up-to-date totals on nests laid in Volusia County. According to the dashboard, as of August 31, Volusia County has had 1,418 total nests laid and more than 60,000 eggs hatched! You can check it out by clicking here. And, don't forget... we also cover beaches in Flagler County and a small portion of St. Johns County as well which aren't reported in Volusia's dashboard. Our volunteers have been super busy and it isn't over yet! Keep coming mama turtles!!!
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~Volusia/Flagler Turtle Patrol
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Check out our new Facebook Page!
We're not only on the beach,
we're in the community as well!
Not only are we out on the beach taking care of the turtles, we're in the community educating adults and children alike about the sea turtles with which we share our beaches. Below are a few photos from this summer's educational experiences. Thank  you to all our volunteers who help in every capacity... from educating the public, morning patrol, nest success evaluations, transporting turtles, helping with strandings and much, much more. Our mission to protect sea turtles wouldn't be possible without you!

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).