August 1, 2021
The Best of Both Worlds!
It's that great time of year when we have the honor of sharing our beaches with both mama turtles coming to shore to lay their eggs and hatchlings emerging from nests laid earlier in the season. Please take extra care to fill in holes and knock down sandcastles so that emerging hatchlings can safely make their way to the ocean. Other obstacles for hatchlings include lights that can be seen from the beach (flashlights or building lights along A1A) and predators (crabs, birds, etc.). Hatchlings are naturally attracted to the light of the moon reflecting off the ocean. When man-made lights get in the way, hatchlings can become disoriented and lose precious energy traveling towards them in a direction away from the ocean. For those hatchlings lucky enough to make it to the ocean, they will begin their long journey to the Sargasso Sea where they will feed and hide from predators among the seaweed for the first few years of their lives.
Also, as a reminder, August through November is Washback Season. When storms and strong winds occur, clumps of seaweed from the Sargasso Sea may be “washed back” to our beaches. Young, post-hatchling, sea turtles (weeks to months old) that get carried back to the beach among the seaweed are called “washbacks.” While your first instinct may be to place them back in the water, that’s not the best way to help them. They may be weak, exhausted or dehydrated and in need of medical attention. If you find a washback, please call the Florida Fish and Wildlife Conservation Commission at
1-800-404-FWCC (3922).
Also, as a reminder, August through November is Washback Season. When storms and strong winds occur, clumps of seaweed from the Sargasso Sea may be “washed back” to our beaches. Young, post-hatchling, sea turtles (weeks to months old) that get carried back to the beach among the seaweed are called “washbacks.” While your first instinct may be to place them back in the water, that’s not the best way to help them. They may be weak, exhausted or dehydrated and in need of medical attention. If you find a washback, please call the Florida Fish and Wildlife Conservation Commission at
1-800-404-FWCC (3922).
~ The Volusia/Flagler Turtle Patrol
Keep Your Distance!
Photo Credit: Linda Jaeger
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Sadly, the photo to the left was taken earlier this nesting season. Usually mama turtles dig a pit on shore in which to bury their eggs. Then, they use their flippers to fill in the pit and cover the eggs. Unfortunately, if mama turtles are disturbed while nesting, they may panic and use their flippers to toss the eggs around in all directions. As human footprints can be seen surrounding the eggs in the photo to the left, that may be what happened here. Eggs left on the surface are not viable, they will become dried out from the heat or washed away by the tides. As the average sea turtle nest contains more than 100 eggs, that's potentially 100 lives lost.
PLEASE be kind and give mama turtles and emerging hatchlings their space! Or, if you see someone disturbing a nesting turtle or emerging hatchlings, call the FWCC at 1-800-404-FWCC (3922) for assistance. |
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.