Protecting Nesting Sea Turtles in Volusia and Flagler Counties, Florida.
Rare Kemp's Ridleys have arrived!
Last updated July 1, 2017
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We hope you are enjoying your summer! We continue to monitor the beach daily for new turtle crawls. We’ve been busy marking nests and false crawls as well as relocating nests that were laid too close to the ocean. We are very excited to report that we have had 4 Kemp’s Ridley Sea Turtle nests so far this season! To put that into perspective, there were only 6 Kemp’s Ridley nests in total for the last ten years (from 2006-2016). We’ve also had 3 Leatherback nests, 5 Green nests and approximately 300 Loggerhead nests. Finally, a big thanks to all of our volunteers. We couldn’t do it without you!
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Relocating eggs laid too close to the water to higher ground.
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~ The Volusia/Flagler Turtle Patrol
(P.S. Don’t forget to check out our Facebook page for pictures of some of our morning runs!)
(P.S. Don’t forget to check out our Facebook page for pictures of some of our morning runs!)
July Fact of the Month...
Some land turtles can retract their heads and limbs into their shells for protection. Some can snap their shells completely shut. But sea turtles can’t do either. Why not? It’s all about the environment. In order to be successful, all animals must adapt to their environments. Since sea turtles spend most of their lives in the ocean, they have adapted to be strong swimmers. The shape of their shells has flattened and streamlined. Their limbs have become long and paddle-like. While these adaptations prevent sea turtles from being able to hide in their shells, they provide them with speed, agility, and the ability to move efficiently through the water. This helps them avoid predators and is just what they need to be successful in their ocean environment.
FLORIDA SEA TURTLES
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There are 5 species of sea turtles found along Florida's Beaches.
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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,
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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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