SANIBEL-CAPTIVA CONSERVATION FOUNDATION A sea turtle nest on Captiva.

As of June 12, the Sanibel-Captiva Conservation Foundation had documented 371 loggerhead nests and one leatherback nest on Sanibel and Captiva since April 24.

It reported that heavy rains and flooding this week due to the wet season’s first tropical system do not necessarily mean trouble for the nests — sea turtle eggs are permeable, so a little extra water should not be an issue and may have a beneficial cooling effect.

The SCCF continued that the biggest storm threats to incubating eggs include prolonged inundation or beach erosion and accretion, which can wash out nests or change nest conditions. Luckily, sea turtles lay multiple nests per season at different times so that even if one nest washes away, there is a high likelihood that others produce hatchlings.

The public can help protect nesting females and hatchlings by turning off beach-front lights after dark, filling in holes, flattening sandcastles, and removing beach furniture and trash.

To report a suspected new nest or issues with nests/turtles, beach lighting, or beach furniture, call the SCCF Sea Turtle Hotline at 978-728-3663.

For more ways to protect and care for sea turtles, visit https://sancaplifesavers.org/.