JACKSONVILLE BEACH, Fla. – Wednesday marks the official start of sea turtle nesting season, which means turtles will be burying their eggs in nests up and down the coastline.
Sea turtles play a major role in keeping our oceans healthy.
That’s just one of the reasons why it’s so important to keep them safe this upcoming nesting season.
If anyone understands that, it’s Kevin Brown with Beaches Sea Turtle Patrol.
“Every morning, volunteer walkers go out and foot patrol up and down the beach from the county line to Hanna Park. We’re a working group for preservation,” Brown said.
Brown said during nesting season, it’s important to keep these three things in mind when people are out and about on the beach.
“Clean, dark, and flat. What we ask is that people come to the beach and please when you leave, leave it clean. Take everything with you that you brought. Dark when there are nests or during this season, please turn lights off. And flat, leave the beach exactly as you found it,” Brown said.
That means, if you dig a hole in the sand, be sure to fill it before you leave.
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Brown said between Jacksonville, Atlantic, and Neptune Beaches, last year’s sea turtle nesting season ended with:
- 80 nests
- 5,601 hatchlings
- He also said 13 nests were lost to water events
Sea turtle nesting season goes through Halloween. Overall, Brown said to pay attention to the signs, be aware, and considerate.
He’s hopeful this season will be successful.
“We’re always optimistic. And along with those numbers, I’d love to bring up the fact that we are considered the north, northwestern Atlantic. And the numbers told us last year coming out of FWC, that we have the largest loggerhead nesting occur in the state of Florida. we are very encouraged by what all the volunteer programs are doing for the state of Florida and in our area,” Brown said.
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If you see an injured or dead sea turtle, call the Florida Fish and Wildlife at 1-888-404-FWCC (3922) or *FWC from your cell phone.