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.
May 1, 2022
2022 Turtle Nesting Season
04-13-2022 Leatherback Turtle Crawl & Nest
Today marks the first day of the 2022 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 6 Sea Turtles come to shore to lay eggs this year (3 Leatherbacks and 1 Loggerhead in Volusia and 2 Leatherbacks in Flagler)! Leatherbacks are the first to lay eggs each season. They are the largest of all the sea turtles and can weigh up to 2,000 pounds. A single track (as seen in the photo above taken by one of our volunteers) is enormous compared to the tracks of other species of sea turtles and can easily span 5 feet in width. To learn more about the Leatherback and all of the species of sea turtles found on Florida's beaches, click here.
We are excited to report that we have already had 6 Sea Turtles come to shore to lay eggs this year (3 Leatherbacks and 1 Loggerhead in Volusia and 2 Leatherbacks in Flagler)! Leatherbacks are the first to lay eggs each season. They are the largest of all the sea turtles and can weigh up to 2,000 pounds. A single track (as seen in the photo above taken by one of our volunteers) is enormous compared to the tracks of other species of sea turtles and can easily span 5 feet in width. To learn more about the Leatherback and all of the species of sea turtles found on Florida's beaches, click here.
Save the Date!
April 2, 2022
14th Annual Turtle Fest
Please join us for our 14th Annual Turtle Fest on Saturday, April 2, 2022. Turtle Fest is the primary fundraiser for the Volusia/Flagler Turtle Patrol. Activities include live music, entertainment, turtle races, face painting, educational opportunities, white elephant sales, a variety of vendors and wares, local artists and crafts along with food and beverages for sale.
For more info and photos from last year's event, click here.
For more info and photos from last year's event, click here.
Interested in sponsoring this event?
Please contact us at VolusiaTurtlePatrol@gmail.com
Please contact us at VolusiaTurtlePatrol@gmail.com
Turtle Trek 5K Run/Walk
We are currently planning our Fourth Annual Turtle Trek 5K Run/Walk on Saturday, March 5, 2022 in Ponce Inlet, Florida. This is a fundraiser benefitting the Volusia/Flagler Turtle Patrol, a non-profit organization dedicated to the protection and conservation of endangered sea turtles. For more detailed information on the event, click the Registration Form below.
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Register
There are two ways to register for this event:
1. Online Registration, click HERE. 2. Mail-In Registration, click HERE. 
Registration Form
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Donate/Sponsor
We are seeking donations and sponsors to help fund this event and our on-going conservation efforts. Please click the Donation Form below for more info.
Donation/Sponsorship Form
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For a map for the 2022 Turtle Trek 5K Course Route, click HERE.
For photos/videos of the 2020 Turtle Trek 5K, click HERE.
For photos/videos of the 2020 Turtle Trek 5K, click HERE.
Please join us for the following upcoming events:
Turtle Trek 5K Run/Walk - Saturday, March 5, 2022
14th Annual Turtle Fest - Saturday, April 2, 2022
14th Annual Turtle Fest - Saturday, April 2, 2022
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.
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).
Tips for Sharing our Beaches
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2021 Turtle Fest T-Shirts
AVAILABLE NOW! 
Questions? Email us at VolusiaTurtlePatrol@gmail.com
T-Shirt purchases provide funding to the non-profit turtle patrols and show your support for the protection of endangered species!
Available in sizes:
Small, Medium, Large (front print only) XL (back or front print) $15 +shipping! |
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.