Sea Turtle Nesting Season 2015

DATE: May 5, 2015

Tis’ the season for sea turtle nesting to begin along the beaches of Sanibel Island. The first nest of the year has already been reported on April 25th, by the Sanibel-Captiva Conservation Foundation (SCCF).

Starting May 1st to October 31st, more than 100 island residents volunteer each nesting season to help track and protect the nests of loggerhead and endangered green turtles as part of the Conservation Foundation’s Sea Turtle Research and Monitoring Program

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Looking Back: The 2014 Nesting Stats

At the end of last year’s nesting season, Sanibel had more sea turtle nests than anywhere else in Lee County.  In fact, the SCCF Sea Turtle Nesting Stats reported that as of September 19, 2014 there were a total of 411 nests to end the season on Sanibel Island, and we are hopeful for the same success this year.

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Help Protect the Sea Turtles

As nesting season gets underway, Sundial Beach Resort & Spa guests and visitors can help protect these endangered creatures by keeping nesting areas undisturbed. Help provide a safer beach with the following tips created by the SCCF:

  • Shield or turn off lights near the beach. Close blinds/curtains after dark to eliminate light spilling out to the beach.
  • Remove all beach furniture and equipment each night from the beach.
  • Fill any holes you dig. They pose a hazard at night both for females coming ashore and hatchlings trying to reach the water.
  • Do not approach or disturb nesting turtles.
  • Never take a flash photo of a sea turtle.
  • Limit your use of flashlights on the beach at night. If you see a sea turtle, turn the flashlight off immediately.
  • Pick up trash on the beach, especially plastic.

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Learn About Sea Turtles with Sanibel Sea School

Want to learn more about sea turtle habitats and nesting? Learn, discover and explore with Sanibel Sea School at Sundial, offering classes onsite at the resort with hands-on learning and activities such as turtle tracking. For more information or to register, call 239-395-7236 or email sundial@sanibelseaschool.org.

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