ST. AUGUSTINE, Fla. – A local couple and their daughter witnessed a miracle of nature last weekend when they were on South Ponte Vedra Beach during the hatching of a Kemp’s Ridley sea turtle nest.
They watched as the tiny creatures made their treacherous trek to the sea under the watchful eye of the Beaches Sea Turtle Patrol.
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Laura Glover told News4JAX that members of the patrol were counting the critters and making sure each one made it successfully to the ocean.
The total: 106.
St. Johns County told News4JAX earlier this week that the Kemp’s Ridley sea turtle is the most endangered of all sea turtles, so the successful hatching was a welcome sight.
Glover and her family took photos and video as they watched, calling it a “delightful opportunity.”
It’s possible the nest that hatched was the lone Kemp’s Ridley nest that had been previously counted by authorities in northern St. Johns County.
As of Friday, July 22, 1,021 sea turtle nests had been found along the beaches, including Anastasia Island, Matanzas Inlet South, and northern St. Johns County beaches.
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Of those, 755 were found in the northern St. Johns County beaches. Of those 755, 715 were Loggerheads, 28 were Greens, and 11 were Leatherbacks.
Also found was one nest for the Kemp’s Ridley sea turtle. Small in size, it’s the most endangered of all sea turtles.
The county says the highest number of sea turtle nests on St. Johns County beaches occurred in 2019, with a final count of 1,145. This season’s numbers are expected to surpass that count.
To comply with regulations that protect the turtles, the county says beach driving and lighting rules are in effect through Oct. 31. Vehicular traffic on the beach is only allowed from 8 a.m. to 7:30 p.m. and all beachfront properties are required to reduce the impact of interior and exterior lighting which may impact nesting sea turtles.
According to the county, sea turtle populations are difficult to count because juveniles and adult males do not come ashore. Only female sea turtles leave the sea to nest. The numbers of females in the population are difficult to count because mothers lay multiple nests each season.
If you ever see any marine animals in distress, you’re asked to report it to the Sheriff’s Dispatch at 904-824-8304.
For further information visit www.sjcfl.us/HCP/index.aspx or Habitat Conservation Plan (sjcfl.us)
