About half-way through the sea turtle nesting season, the numbers are encouraging. “We’re right in the thick of hatching season,” said biologist Joseph Scarola.
Scarola is the sea turtle lighting specialist for Ecological Associates of Jensen Beach, which is one of three agencies tasked with monitoring sea turtle activity along St. Lucie’s coast. The other two are In-water Research Group and the Fort Pierce Inlet State Park.
As of a report released mid-July, the groups had documented 4,840 loggerhead nests, 337 green turtle nests and 90 leatherback nests. Loggerhead nests are up 50 percent over the 2018 season and 5 percent over 2016, which was a record year.
“We still have a way to go,” Scarola said. But he said all signs are pointing to another record year for loggerheads.
Green sea turtles are also doing well. “It’s looking like a record year for greens, but it’s too early to tell,” Scarola said.
Greens have a biennial nesting pattern – meaning they have stronger nesting seasons one year and weaker seasons the following.
Scarola said the greens that come ashore in St. Lucie seem to like odd-numbered years better. Over the last six years, there have been more nests in those years.
Leatherbacks are the third sea turtle species to nest along St. Lucie’s beaches. They’re also commonly spotted in Martin County.
While some sea turtles munch on sea grasses or crustaceans, leatherbacks feast on jellyfish. Every time you swim in the ocean and not get stung by a jellyfish, “we thank them,” Scarola said.
Now that many of the sea turtle egg clutches are beginning to hatch, environmentalists are reminding the public of what to do if they happen upon a hatchling.
- Keep 50 feet away so as to not frighten them into going the wrong direction, and don’t block their path to the water.
- Fill in any holes, moats or other deep divots in the sand that could otherwise entrap a hatchling.
- Tear down any sandcastles or other sand creations as they could impede the turtles’ trek to the water.
- If a turtle – hatchling or adult – is in distress, don’t touch it. They are a protected species and can only be handled by those with appropriate permits. Instead, call the Florida Fish and Wildlife hotline set up specifically for such emergencies: 1-888-404-FWCC.
- And, remember, turtles dig the dark. Turn off any unnecessary lights outside that are visible from the beach or seaward of the primary dune from sunset to sunrise.
Lights that must be on overnight for security purposes should be shielded and redirected away from the beach. And when possible, longwave light bulbs in amber or red colors should be used.
Scarola said they field a number of calls each year from people concerned about sea turtle nests during hurricane season. In the event a storm has washed out a clutch of eggs and they are strewn about the beach, odds are that the eggs are lost and are no longer viable, he said.
However, if the storm has only uncovered the nest and the eggs remain together, crews from the FWC or other environmental groups such as Ecological Associates of Jensen Beach can try to relocate the nest. Again, call FWC to report the exposed nest – there’s no guarantee that the nest is still viable, but moving it might give it a chance.
