The annual sea turtle nesting season starts May 1, and environmental experts are reminding beachgoers to pay closer attention to ensure mama turtles and their hatchlings stay safe as they come ashore to lay eggs.
The season runs through Oct. 31, and statistics show about 90% of all sea turtle nesting in the U.S. takes place on Florida’s beaches, including 40 miles of shoreline in St. Johns County.
Females crawl from the water late at night to lay their eggs. They deposit, on average, 100 ping-pong-sized eggs in each nest. They usually lay two-to-three nests per season on a two-to-three-year cycle.
The most common species of sea turtles found on local beaches are loggerheads, which are classified as threatened under the federal Endangered Species Act.
Nearly 17,000 nests were counted along the stretch of beach monitored by Sarah Hirsch and the other researchers at Loggerhead Marinelife Center in Juno Beach. The 2021 Nesting Season started on Monday and runs through October 31.
Nearly 17,000 nests were counted along the stretch of beach monitored by Sarah Hirsch and the other researchers at Loggerhead Marinelife Center in Juno Beach. The 2021 Nesting Season started on Monday and runs through October 31.
Nearly 17,000 nests were counted along the stretch of beach monitored by Sarah Hirsch and the other researchers at Loggerhead Marinelife Center in Juno Beach. The 2021 Nesting Season started on Monday and runs through October 31.
Nearly 17,000 nests were counted along the stretch of beach monitored by Sarah Hirsch and the other researchers at Loggerhead Marinelife Center in Juno Beach. The 2021 Nesting Season started on Monday and runs through October 31.