More than 1,000 sea turtle nests on islands
The Sanibel-Captiva Conservation Foundation (SCCF) reported that sea turtle nesting season continues to be in full swing on the islands, with its sea turtle team reporting strong nest counts and thousands of hatchlings already making their way to the Gulf.
As of July 15, Captiva had recorded 214 loggerhead nests, while Sanibel had 848 loggerhead nests and 10 green sea turtle nests. Combined, the islands had 1,072 nests so far. Across both Sanibel and Captiva, 4,640 loggerhead hatchlings had emerged.
The SCCF added that coyote depredation is down from last year, but remains a challenge for nesting turtles, with 60 nests lost on Captiva and 137 lost on Sanibel this season as of July 15.
Its sea turtle team continues to monitor nests daily across both islands as the season progresses, tracking new activity and working to protect nests from predation.
The SCCF noted that with a few weeks of nesting season left, this year may exceed the record for total loggerhead nests set in 2023 at 1,177 nests. As of July 15, the total for loggerhead nests was 1,062.
To report issues with nests, nesting turtles or hatchlings, call the Sea Turtle Hotline at 978-728-3663.
For information on protecting sea turtles during nesting season, visit https://sancaplifesavers.org/.