Thank you to our wonderful volunteers! We very much appreciate their hard work as they patrol the beaches each morning. We couldn't do it without them! At the moment, our volunteer roster for the 2023 Nesting Season is full. Please check back in the future for potential volunteer opportunities.

Volunteer.

We very much appreciate our volunteers who patrol the beaches each morning. We couldn't do it without them! If you're interested in volunteering for morning patrol, click below to download a volunteer application. Applications will be reviewed in April for the upcoming turtle nesting season. 

Daily Life Turtle Patrol

We hope you are enjoying your summer and our beautiful Florida beaches! Our dedicated volunteers have been out each morning patrolling for turtle activity. While there may not be a "typical" day for us, there is always much to do. Under the direction of the Florida Fish and Wildlife Conservation Commission (FWC) we conduct daily nesting surveys to determine the number and species of mama turtles that came to shore and whether not they laid nests. We also mark nests with stakes/ribbons, relocate nests (per FWC guidelines, e.g. if nests were laid below the daily tide line or in front of storm water outfall), check each nest already marked to ensure stakes and ribbons are holding up from tides, weather and beach-goers (and replace them if they're not), observe nests to determine if hatchlings have emerged during the night, transport sick/injured hatchlings or washbacks to a facility when in need of medical attention, conduct hatch success evaluations (to determine how many eggs were laid, hatchlings emerged, etc.), and much more. All of the data collected through our efforts is combined with data from other areas around the state to get a better understanding of the number, species, and distribution of sea turtles and look for trends. That information is used to make decisions, such as coastal construction and beach re-nourishment, towards the goal of promoting the recovery of our endangered sea turtle species.
​It's hard work, especially on hot, sunny days, but we love what we do!  

STORM

Unfortunately, with the first big storm of the season upon us, many hatchlings may be headed for a rough ride in the coming days. Nests on the beach may get washed out by the storm. Hatchlings that have already swum out to sea may be washed back by the strength of the winds and tides. If you find a weak hatchling on the beach after the storm, please do one of the following: ​
  • Call the FWC at 1-888-404-3922.
  • If you are local to our area, you may call our message line at 386-763-0977.
  • You may drop off weak hatchlings at any Lifeguard Station in Volusia County, Whitney Turtle Hospital in Marineland, the Bait Shop on the Flagler Beach Pier, or the Marine Science Center in Ponce Inlet. (If dropping off a weak hatchling, please keep them in a quiet, shaded container with moist sand (approx. 1 inch) during transport. Do not submerge them in water; hatchlings need to breathe air and may be too exhausted or weak to lift their heads out of the water.)
We would, however, like to give a big Thank You to mama turtles... while a storm such as Isaias may be a setback for the success of nests currently on our beaches, all is not lost. Mama turtles come to shore multiple times per nesting season, depositing eggs in different locations at different times. She does not put "all of her eggs in one basket" so to speak. So, if one clutch is lost to a storm, another may survive. Good thinking, Mother Nature!​ ​
We are happy to report that so far this season many hatchlings have emerged from nests laid earlier this season! After nests hatch, we conduct hatch success evaluations* to determine how many eggs were laid, how many turtles hatched, etc. One such evaluation performed last month was on a nest laid by a Leatherback Sea Turtle. Check out the photos below!

Unfortunately, with the first storm of the season upon us, many hatchlings may not be so lucky in the coming days. Nests on the beach may get washed out by the storm and hatchlings that have already swum out to sea may be washed back by the strength of the winds and tides. If you find a weak hatchling on the beach after the storm, please do one of the following: ​
  • Call the FWC at 1-888-404-3922.
  • If you are local to our area, you may call our message line at 386-763-0977 for assistance.
  • You may drop off weak hatchlings at any Lifeguard Station in Volusia County, Whitney Turtle Hospital in Marineland, the Bait Shop on the Flagler Beach Pier or the Marine Science Center in Ponce Inlet. (If dropping off a weak hatchling, please keep them in a quiet, dry, and shaded environment. Do not submerge them in water; hatchling need to breathe air and can be too exhausted or weak to lift their heads out of the water.)

And, a final Thank You to mama turtles... while a storm such as Isaias may be a setback for the success of nests currently on our beaches, all is not lost. Mama turtles come to shore multiple times per nesting season, depositing eggs in different locations at different times. She does not put "all of her eggs in one basket" so to speak. So, if one clutch is lost to a storm, another may survive. Good thinking, Mother Nature!
​ 
​~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 in the sand. When leaving the beach, 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're already on shore, they may become disoriented or be frightened away.
  • Do not disturb nesting mamas. 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. 

Volusia/Flagler Turtle Patrol In the News.

Washbacks

August 1 through November 30 is Washback Season. When storms and strong winds occur, clumps of seaweed from the Sargasso Sea are “washed back” to our beaches. Young, post-hatchling, sea turtles (weeks to months old) that get carried back to the beach amongst 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).

While the turtles are away,
migrating birds have come to stay!

The turtles that hatched during the 2021 Nesting Season have headed off to the Sargasso Sea where they will spend time hiding from predators and growing bigger and stronger. As many animal-loving beachgoers know, shortly after the sea turtles leave, the migrating birds arrive. You may see large flocks of birds on our beaches that you don't see during the summer months. Many of these birds have traveled long distances (sometimes thousands of miles) to get here and may be fatigued, hungry or dehydrated. For some, this is a short stop on an even longer journey. For others, this will become their winter home. If you are walking on the beach, please give migratory birds plenty of space as you walk by. Flushing, or causing the birds to become scared and fly away, may seem like fun and "look pretty" but it may cause them to lose precious energy which may already be in short supply. Thank you for caring and responsibly sharing our beaches with all creatures great and small!
Click Here for more information and photos of the Birds of Volusia County.