SCCF Sea Turtle team finding nests as night surveys begin
During its sunrise beach patrols, the SCCF Sea Turtle team documented its first next for the islands on April 27 on the east end of Sanibel. On May 2, it documented the first nest of the season for Captiva.
As of May 5, one loggerhead nest was recorded for Sanibel’s east end, four loggerhead nests were recorded for Sanibel’s west end and two loggerhead nests were recorded for Captiva. In addition, a total of 15 false crawls had been recorded among the two islands, according to data available on May 5.
The Sanibel-Captiva Conservation Foundation reported that the Sea Turtle team’s nighttime surveys, which began on May 1, present an excellent opportunity to identify individual females. The encounters can lead to important insights into the behavior of the turtles that nest in the area.
For example, the SCCF first encountered a loggerhead in 2017 that was named “Oatmeal Cookie.” The SCCF observed the turtle three times in 2017 and twice in 2020, and she has grown 2 centimeters since the first encounter. On April 25, Oatmeal Cookie was spotted 28 miles off the coast of Don Pedro Island by Florida State University staff.
“Understanding the locations of foraging grounds and migratory corridors of our nesting turtles helps shed light on where these turtles go after they nest and allows us to better conserve these vulnerable animals,” SCCF Director of Coastal Wildlife Kelly Sloan said.
The SCCF reminds the public to do its part to help protect sea turtles. Remember to turn out lights, remove beach furniture, fill in holes, pick up litter and use flashlights with red filters when on the beach after dark. If you encounter a nesting turtle on the beach, keep calm and give her plenty of space.
To report any other issues with sea turtles, contact the Florida Fish and Wildlife Conservation Commission at 888-404-3922.