Sea Turtle Nesting Season in Pinellas County Florida
May 1st marked the start of Sea Turtle Nesting Season. Those native to Florida are probably familiar with this season but, for anyone who is not here is a little explanation of what you need to know.
From May 1st to Oct 31st pregnant female sea turtles make their way from the ocean to the shore in order to lay their eggs. They dig holes in the sand to create a nest, the process can take 1-3 hours. After mama turtle is done, she will then return to the ocean. According to the National Ocean Service, “The sea turtle lays up to 100 eggs, which incubate in the warm sand for about 60 days.” When the babies hatch the emerge from the nest and start their journey to the water.
The nest is not packed or covered with any material other than sand, making them hard to spot on the beach. This is why it is vital that beach goers be aware of active nesting season. Thanks to the conservation efforts of organizations like the Clearwater Marine Aquarium, volunteers and staff patrol the beach and mark nests making them easy to spot.
The nests are located by looking for trails in the sand left behind by females. Once the trails are spotted, it will then be determined if there is truly a nest in that spot. If there is, the nest will be marked off with wooden poles and tape to keep people from damaging the nest.
The Clearwater Marine Aquarium (CMA) staff and volunteers monitor 21 miles of beach in North Pinellas County for nests. They primarily observe loggerhead sea turtles in Pinellas County. On rare occasions they said they have encountered Kemp’s ridleys or green sea turtles. They report their annual nesting data to Florida Fish and Wildlife Conservation Commission (FWC) and Pinellas County. During the 2021 nesting season CMA reported 281 nests, yielding over 8,000 sea turtle hatchlings.
How You Can Help
- Knock down sandcastles and fill holes
Sandcastles and holes present obstacles that inhibit sea turtles and hatchlings from navigating the beach safely.
- Dispose of trash or recycle
Trash that stays on the shore or ends up in the ocean presents potentially life-threatening hazards as they can be mistakenly consumed or get caught around sea turtles flippers, necks, etc.
- Clean up beach equipment
Chairs, umbrellas, coolers, and other recreational beach equipment can inhibit sea turtles from being able to safely navigate the shores.
- Turn off lights
Keep the beach dark. Sea turtles use natural light to navigate, so turn off any artificial lights as they may confuse hatchlings. Those lights can also deter females from nesting on the beach.
- Do not disturb nests
If you see a nesting female, a nest or hatchlings, do not touch or disturb them. Sea turtles are federally protected and Florida Statutes also protect sea turtles, their nests and hatchlings.
- Go slow when boating
Stay alert when boating and be sure to abide by boating signage. If you see a sea turtle slow down, keep your distance and steer around them.
- Clean up fishing gear
Do not abandon fishing gear, clean up and dispose of any gear you are using. Lose lines, hooks, nets and more cause serious hazards to all sea life, sea turtles included.
- Never feed sea turtles
Feeding sea turtles is harmful and is illegal. Never attempt to feed a sea turtle.
- Give them space
Sea turtles are federally protected, do not touch, pick up or otherwise disturb sea turtles. If you are concerned about the health or safety of a sea turtle contact your local rescue group.
If you’re interested in more ways you can help, check out the different ways you can get involved with the Clearwater Marine Aquarium. Doing everything you can do help protect sea turtles helps keep them happy and healthy in their natural habitat. When circumstances arise in which they need rescuing, CMA can also help. While the main goal of any rescue is to return them back to the ocean, in situations where that cannot be done there is a home for them at the aquarium.
Boba, Bailey, Cocoa, and Snorkel are just a few of the resident sea turtles at CMA. While they all have different back stories, they all now get to live out their days with love and enrichment from the staff. For those animals, the CMA staff provides all the care they need in order for them to live a full and happy life!
Boba
Bailey
Cocoa
