3 Simple Steps for Beachgoers that Keep Sea Turtles Safe
According to the Florida Fish and Wildlife Conservation Commission, Florida is the most important nesting area for loggerhead turtles in the world, hosting more than 40 percent of nests laid globally. But Florida hosts a whopping 90 percent of the sea turtle nests laid in the United States each season. In addition to loggerheads, leatherback and green sea turtles nest on the Space and Treasure Coast’s beaches and there will be tens of thousands of nests over the summer.
Sea turtles will nest on local beaches between March and October, with timing dependent on the species. Nesting adults do a bit of camouflage and disguise on their nests and construct them deep in the ground
It is said that only 1 in 1,000 hatchlings, or even 1 in 10,000 hatchlings, will survive to adulthood. For this reason, it’s extremely important that humans don’t cause harm by disturbing or touching the nests, the adult nesting turtles or the hatchlings on the beach.
The Sea Turtle Preservation Society (STPS) offers three easy steps to help keep our sea turtles safe from May 1 through October 31. Just remember to keep the beach clean, flat and dark.
