5/7/2023 4:43:00 PM Sea Turtle Nesting Season Is Here
Provided by the Coastal Wildlife Club
As May begins here on the west coast, so does the sea turtle season. Coastal Wildlife Club (CWC) volunteers are monitoring the beaches of Manasota Key and have already documented 24 sea turtle nests as of April 27th! The official start of the season is May 1st, when local sea turtle protection ordinances go into force each year. So, it’s time to get back into good turtle beach habits. Eight Ways You Can Help The Turtles! 1. Dark: Keep the beach dark and free of artificial light. Sea turtles find their way back to the water by the light on the horizon. Artificial light can cause them to crawl in the wrong direction or, in confusion, into harm’s way. 2. Flat: Knock down sandcastles and fill in holes after a day of fun. Holes are hazardous to humans and can be deadly for sea turtles and their hatchlings. 3. Clean: At night, take in furniture and toys so that all of the beach is free of obstructions and available for nesting turtles. Remove trash and other debris from the beach. 4. Slow: On the water, slow down for sea turtles basking at the surface or rising to take a breath. In nearshore waters, you may see mating pairs, which are especially vulnerable to boat strikes. Report struggling or dead sea turtles or manatees to the FWC Wildlife Alert Hotline: 888-404-3922. 5. Respect: If you are fortunate enough to encounter a nesting sea turtle, remain quiet and still. Be a statue. Give the turtle space, observing her from a respectful distance. • At night, do NOT use flash photography or any lights. Adjust your cellphone display to the dimmest setting. • Report sea turtles nesting during the day. Please send photos to: [email protected] and call us at: 941-212-2214. 6. Learn: Attend a “Let’s Talk Turtles” program hosted by CWC periodically during turtle season. The program is free and open to the public. For location and dates, visit Facebook /CoastalWildlifeClub or www.CoastalWildlifeClub.org/events. 7. Get Yours: Consider a Sea Turtle license plate for your vehicles. Funds raised support Florida’s sea turtle program and provide grants for sea turtle research, outreach, and conservation projects. Find out more at HelpingSeaTurtles.org. Nest Numbers Manasota Key has the highest nesting density for loggerheads on the Gulf coast, and 2022 was a record year with CWC patrollers reporting 5,509 nests: 5,155 loggerhead (Caretta caretta), 353 green (Chelonia mydas) and one Kemp’s ridley (Lepidochelys kempii). Each mother turtle lays several nests during a season, which means that the number of turtles out there is less than the number of nests counted. Nevertheless, those numbers are encouraging! A Few Words About Red Lights Sea turtles CAN see red light. However, red is the least disruptive color for them. Any artificial light, including red, is a potential threat to sea turtles at night. A red flashlight (not a headlamp) used for personal safety should be turned on minimally, held in one hand and shielded with the other. And it should be turned off when not needed. Follow CWC’s nesting updates on Facebook or on the CWC website listed above. Weekly updates are posted usually on Fridays.
