Sea Turtle Nesting Season Goes to Oct. 31
Published on July 23, 2024
It’s sea turtle nesting season, now through Oct. 31. Clearwater Code Compliance is responding to reports along Clearwater Beach of sea turtles getting disoriented when they hatch, due to being drawn to lights along the shoreline. The hatchlings are climbing over sand dunes and into parking lots, which threaten their survival. If you live along the beach, keep your lights low or off to protect them.
This is a critical time for sea turtles, which continue their legacy and return to the original beaches from where they were born to lay their eggs. Loggerheads, leatherbacks, green sea turtles, Kemp’s ridleys and hawksbills – all of which are threatened or endangered – make their nests along Florida's beaches.
Last season, Clearwater Marine Aquarium counted 227 nests in its 21-mile stretch of beaches. Of those, Clearwater alone saw 44 nests and 79 false crawls.
“We want to remind locals, new residents and tourists, that the nesting season is here, and to be attentive when visiting the beach during this special time,” said CMA’s new Sea Turtle Conservation Program Manager Wendy Hoeflich.
She reminds the public that it’s important not to interact with turtle hatchlings, as they are protected by state and federal laws. CMA reports annual nesting data to the FWC and Pinellas County, including found nests, false crawl counts, disorientation events, obstruction events, predation and vandalism – all of which threaten endangered turtles.
10 Sea Turtle Nesting Season Tips
- Pick up your trash, especially plastic bags, which can be mistaken for jellyfish, one of turtles’ favorite foods
- Fill any holes dug during your stay on the beach
- Knock down sand castles at the end of the day
- Hatchling sea turtles are very sensitive and should not be disturbed
- If you see a turtle on the beach, please do not interact with it
- Never touch or disturb a nest
- Keep flashlights and camera phone lights turned off at night
- Beach residents and businesses should change outdoor lights to sea turtle-friendly options
- Use special protective window treatments on doors and windows to minimize interior light from reaching the beach
- If you see an injured turtle, call the FWC Wildlife Alert Hotline at (888) 404-3922
Other Ways to Help
Sea-Turtle-Friendly Lighting
“A big challenge we face is encouraging residents and businesses to use sea turtle-friendly lighting to reduce the number of sea turtles crawling away from the water or wandering on the beach due to the presence of bright artificial lights,” said Hoeflich. The team provides educational resources to show which types of lights are less distracting to turtles and works with other agencies to inform the public.
Protect the Nest Program
CMA also offers a Protect the Nest Program which allows the public to purchase a personalized plaque and virtually adopt a sea turtle nest for the year to protect nests in CMA’s survey area. The wooden, turtle-shaped plaques are affixed to a nest during the season and will be returned at the end of the season to the purchasing individual or family. Visit protectnest.org for more details.
If you’d like to learn more about Clearwater Marine Aquarium’s sea turtle nesting program, please visit CMA’s website at Sea turtle conservation program page.
About Clearwater Marine Aquarium
Clearwater Marine Aquarium (CMA) is a 501(c)(3) nonprofit working marine rescue center dedicated to inspiring the human spirit through leadership in education, research, rescue, rehabilitation and release. With a mission to preserve the environment and its marine life, CMA is home to rescued dolphins, sea turtles, river otters, stingrays, a nurse shark and more. Through Clearwater Marine Aquarium Research Institute, CMA conducts important global research focused on protecting manatees, North Atlantic right whales and sea turtles. Major motion picture Dolphin Tale (2011) and its sequel Dolphin Tale 2 (2014) features the true stories of rescued resident dolphins Winter and Hope, inspiring millions around the world. The mission and potential to change people’s lives differentiates Clearwater Marine Aquarium from any other aquarium in the world.
