Our volunteers are amazing with everything they have to accomplish each morning.
If you see them on patrol, please give them a smile, wave or thumbs up to
let them know that they're appreciated!
If you see them on patrol, please give them a smile, wave or thumbs up to
let them know that they're appreciated!
Our volunteers are amazing with everything they have to accomplish each morning.
If you see them on patrol, please give them a smile, wave or thumbs up to
let them know that they're appreciated!
If you see them on patrol, please give them a smile, wave or thumbs up to
let them know that they're appreciated!
- New Nests. Mama turtles continue to come to our beaches to lay their eggs. We patrol the beaches each morning, find their nests and stake them off to keep them out of harm's way. We also record various data such as species of turtle, location of nest, incoming vs. outgoing track, whether obstacles were encountered, etc.
- False Crawls. Some mama turtles come to shore but return to the ocean before laying their eggs. They may have been spooked by something or unable to find a suitable spot to nest.
- Nest Relocations. If a sea turtle lays her nest in certain areas defined by the FWC (such as below the daily high tide line where nests will be inundated with water every day or in front of storm water outfall), we are allowed to relocate the nest to a drier location (following specific guidelines) to increase the hatchlings' chance of survival.
- Emergences. Hatchlings are emerging from their nests (usually at night) and making their way out to the sea. Volunteers can tell this has happened by looking for hatchling tracks leading from an emergence hole in the nest area to the ocean. Occasionally, hatchlings become disoriented and can travel long distances in a direction other than to the water. Volunteers spend time following the tracks to try to locate the hatchlings.
- Nest Success Evaluations. Several days after hatchlings emerge, a Nest Success Evaluation is performed to determine the success of each nest. How many eggs hatched? How many did not? How many hatchlings perished? Did a predator or plant roots invade the nest? etc.
- Hatchling Release or Rehab. Occasionally we either find hatchings on the beach that did not make their way out to the ocean with their siblings, or beachgoers alert us to the fact. If the hatchlings are strong enough to be released, we point them toward the ocean to ensure they get there safely. If they are weak or injured, we bring them to the Marine Science Center for evaluation and rehabilitation.
- And more... You never know what an early morning ride on the beach will bring. Sometimes we find injured wildlife (shorebirds, etc.) that need to be transported to the Marine Science Center, sandcastles that need to be knocked down, beach furniture left unattended on the beach which could become an obstacle to nesting turtles, and hatchlings, and more.
What's Keeping Turtle Patrol Busy?
Tips for Sharing the Beach
- 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 the beach, remove obstacles that can get in their way by taking everything with you, filling in holes, and knocking down sandcastles.
- Pick up your trash. Mama turtles may think your plastic bag is a yummy jellyfish an eat it, making her sick. Look around before you leave and place your trash (and trash left behind by others) in the trash/recycling 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 hatchlings will perish.
- Call for assistance. Turtles have been coming to shore to lay eggs for thousands of years without needing any help from us. If you see one coming to shore, please keep your distance, remain quiet and watch nature at its finest. However, if you see bystanders crowding or harassing a nesting turtle, please call the FWC for assistance at 1-888-404-FWCC (888-404-3922).
May 1, 2025
2025 Turtle Nesting Season Begins!
2025 Turtle Nesting Season Begins!
Turtle crawl. Tracks made by a sea turtle as she comes onto the beach and returns to the ocean.
May 1st marks the first day of the 2025 Turtle Nesting Season! The season runs from May 1 through October 31. Mama turtles are beginning to come to shore to lay their eggs on our beaches. During nesting season our volunteers patrol the beach each morning to look for turtle crawls (tracks left in the sand by mama turtles as they make their way onto the beach to lay their eggs). Volunteers are trained to locate turtle crawls, determine if a nest was laid, collect detailed information about the crawl/nest (which will be reported to the FWC), and clearly mark the nest so that its location is known for further evaluation and so that it remains protected and undisturbed by beachgoers. We are excited to report that we have already had several mama turtles come to shore to lay eggs this season. To learn more about all of the species of sea turtles found on Florida's beaches, click here.
Adopt a Sea Turtle Nest!
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The 2025 Sea Turtle Nesting Season is just around the corner! Want to make a difference? Consider adopting a sea turtle nest. By doing so, you'll receive an adoption certificate, a sea turtle educational packet, and a nest success evaluation report for your adopted nest. Plus, your support will provide crucial funding to our non-profit organization, helping to protect endangered sea turtles.
For adoptions with Volusia Turtle Patrol, click here. For adoptions with Flagler Turtle Patrol, click here. |
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Flagler County is split into three sections: Flagler North, Flagler Beach, and Flagler South. All 3 of these runs are done on ATVs due to the nature of the coastline and rocky shore. Summer Haven beach in St. Johns County is patrolled on foot and by ATV.
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Need a Gift for the Holidays?
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Washback Season
August 1 - November 30
August 1 - November 30
August 1st through November 30th is Washback Season. When baby sea turtles hatch and emerge from their nests, they head for the ocean and swim towards the Sargasso Sea. There they find food and shelter from predators among the sargassum seaweed. They live among the seaweed for the first few years of their lives as they strengthen and grow. When storms and strong winds occur clumps of seaweed may be "washed back" from the Sargasso Sea to the beach. The young, post-hatchling sea turtles (weeks to months old) that end up back on the beach among the seaweed are called "washbacks." They are often found in the wrack (the line of seaweed, shells and driftwood that collect on the beach). While your first instinct may be to place the small sea turtles back into the water, that's not the best way to help them. They may be weak, exhausted or dehydrated and in need of medical care. If you find a washback, please call the Florida Fish and Wildlife Conservation Commission at 1-800-404-FWCC (3922) or #FWC from your cell phone.
Thanks for a Great Season!
The last official day of the 2024 Turtle Nesting Season was on October 31, 2024. As we do each year, we'd like to take this time to thank everyone involved in helping us in our mission to protect and conserve sea turtles. We appreciate everyone's help, including volunteers who patrol the beaches each morning, beach-side residents who ensure their lights are off, beach-walkers who pick up litter on the beach, good Samaritans who call to report turtles in need, nest adopters and so many more! It's so uplifting to be part of a community with such big hearts ready to lend a helping hand. So, thank you for this year and we'll see you again next year!
~The Volusia/Flagler Turtle Patrol
Final Month of 2024 Turtle Season
We have entered the last official month of the 2024 Turtle Nesting Season. Turtle activity has significantly slowed down with the most recent nest being laid in Volusia County on September 19. While we are still diligently monitoring nests on the beach, the majority of hatchlings born this season have already made their way out to sea. We will continue to monitor nests until the last hatchlings have emerged, even if it happens to be after the last official day of the season on October 31.
With Hurricane Helene just behind us and another storm potentially on the way, some of the turtles that hatched earlier in the season may be in for a rough ride. After making their way out to sea, small turtles are often washed back to shore by the strength of the wind and tides. If you find a weak hatchling on the beach after storms, please do not place it back in the water. Washbacks may be weak and in need of medical assistance. Please call the FWC at 1-888-404-3922 (or #FWC from your cell phone). If you are instructed by the FWC to transport washbacks to a rehabilitation location, keep them in a quiet, shaded container with moist sand (approx 1 inch). 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.
On a happier note, we would like to give a big "Thank You" to mama sea turtles. While end-of-season storms such as Helene and Milton 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. They do not put "all of their eggs in one basket" so to speak. So, if one clutch is lost to a storm, others may thrive.
With Hurricane Helene just behind us and another storm potentially on the way, some of the turtles that hatched earlier in the season may be in for a rough ride. After making their way out to sea, small turtles are often washed back to shore by the strength of the wind and tides. If you find a weak hatchling on the beach after storms, please do not place it back in the water. Washbacks may be weak and in need of medical assistance. Please call the FWC at 1-888-404-3922 (or #FWC from your cell phone). If you are instructed by the FWC to transport washbacks to a rehabilitation location, keep them in a quiet, shaded container with moist sand (approx 1 inch). 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.
On a happier note, we would like to give a big "Thank You" to mama sea turtles. While end-of-season storms such as Helene and Milton 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. They do not put "all of their eggs in one basket" so to speak. So, if one clutch is lost to a storm, others may thrive.
Leatherback Sea Turtle Nests on Flagler Beach
Flagler Beach welcomed their first nesting leatherback sea turtle of the season on March 20th.
Thank you to volunteer, Deena, for sharing your photos!
Flagler Beach welcomed their first nesting leatherback sea turtle of the season on March 20th.
Thank you to volunteer, Deena, for sharing your photos!
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While the turtles are away,
migrating birds have come to play!
The turtles that hatched during the 2023 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 sea turtles leave, 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. They 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.
Volunteer.
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 2024 Nesting Season is full. Please check back in the future for potential volunteer opportunities.
Need a gift for the holidays?
We've got you covered!
We've got you covered!
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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).
Call the Florida Fish and Wildlife Conservation Commision at 1-888-404-FWCC (888-404-3922).
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Nesting Season Reminders:
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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!
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:
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
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.
- Volusia County warns beachgoers to watch out for washback sea turtles (August 17, 2022)
- Sea Turtle Nests in Volusia, Flagler near record numbers in 2019 (July 26, 2019)
- Rare Kemp's Ridley sea turtle spotted on the beach in Ponce inlet (May 18, 2019)
- A "good" turtle season on Volusia/Flagler beaches (October 31, 2018)
- 39,000 turtles hatch as Volusia-Flagler sets records in 2017 (November 22, 2017)
- Thousands of nests recorded as Florida sea turtles having 'banner' year (September 3, 2017)
- Kemp'a Ridley turtles make early appearance on Volusia beaches (July 4, 2017)
- 4 rare Kemp's Ridley sea turtle nests on Volusia Beaches (June 23, 2017)
- Rare Kemp's Ridley 1st to nest on Volusia beaches (April 25, 2017).
- Sea turtle release highlights annual festival in Flagler Beach (April 12, 2017)
- Flagler Beach Turtle Fest brings out turtle and tortoise enthusiasts of all kinds (April 9, 2017)
- Baby turtles face rough seas (November 14, 2016)
- Sea turtles having banner year on Volusia, Flagler beaches (August 5, 2016)
- Rare turtles being seen in Volusia County this spring (June 2, 2016)
- Annual Turtle Fest raises funds for Volusia-Flagler Turtle Patrol (April 6, 2016)
- Turtle Fest: Turtle Patrols one and only fundraiser (April 3, 2016)
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).