Sea turtle hatchlings are still making their way out of nests along Anna Maria Island, even as the season finally winds down. The Anna Maria Island Turtle Watch (AMITW) reported on Friday that no new nests or adult turtle crawls showed up this week. It’s possible a late nest could appear, but odds are the nesting mothers have finished up for the year.
Still, 179 nests remain on the beach, so volunteers expect plenty more hatchlings to dig out and dash for the Gulf before the season wraps. This past week, though, wasn’t great for hatchling survival. The Turtle Watch suspects last month’s heavy rains from Tropical Storm Bertha kept some eggs from developing properly.
Because hatchlings emerge at night, they use the natural light of the sky, stars, and moonlight reflected by the water to guide them toward the Gulf. Any artificial light from the land side can throw them off, making it much harder for them to find their way. That’s why Turtle Watch urges everyone near the beach to keep things as dark as possible. Residents can help by switching off decorative lights as much as they can. For lights that need to stay on, keep them low to the ground, shield the light source, and use bulbs that emit longer wavelengths, think reds and oranges, not blues or whites.
If you spot any hatchlings, whether they’re healthy or struggling, don’t put them in the water. Call the Turtle Watch 24-hour hotline at (941) 301-8434 so the team can step in. With a bit of help, the last of this season’s baby turtles have a better shot at finding their way home.
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