This year, according to the Collier County Sea Turtle Activity Update for April 23-29, 2024, we have a total of five nests. Last year, the first nest in Marco was recorded on May 6, 2023.
The photo featured in this article was a loggerhead who came ashore at the very north end of Sand Dollar Island, but she did not nest and wandered around until late dawn when a sea turtle surveyor came upon her early the next morning. Something in the sand was not right or encountered trash and she was exhausted and false crawled back to the water.
After three decades at sea, these dedicated sea turtle moms risk everything for the next generation and she is back at or close to her birth sandy beach. Their future is in our hands!
- Limit night activities on the beach during nesting season.
- Take back what you bring such as chairs, beach toys, umbrellas, trash, etc.
- Fill in holes before you leave the beach – for the safety of both sea turtles and humans.
- No cell phone lights or flash photography on the beach after 9:00 PM.
- If you witness a sea turtle crawling out of the ocean, digging a nest or just returning to the water, please remain quiet and enjoy the experience.
To report an injured or dead sea turtle, call FWC at 561-357-4200 or locally at the code non-emergency number 239-389-6060.