Sea turtle volunteers busy with hatching season
On Aug. 25, the Sanibel-Captiva Conservation Foundation reported that sea turtle nesting season is all but over. In the past two weeks, only eight new nests had been laid, compared to 81 nests for the previous two weeks. More nests might be laid sporadically over the next several weeks as season officially ends on Oct. 31.
Nonetheless, SCCF’s sea turtle volunteers have been busy monitoring all the incubating nests each day to survey for signs of hatchling emergence and predation and to conduct nest inventories. With 340 nests still incubating as of Aug. 25, four teams of volunteers were monitoring the beaches for hours at a time. The team collects data vital to understanding nest productivity and to statewide recovery efforts.
The SCCF noted that volunteers are vital to the Sea Turtle Program’s success. They also serve as representatives of the community and beach stewards dedicated to protecting these animals.
As of Aug. 25, the total count of loggerhead nests was 906, with last year’s record at 917. The total count of green sea turtle nests was 24, according to the SCCF.