Sea Turtles

7/5/2025 – 7/11/2025

Nests this week 51 (51 loggerheads, 0 greens)
False Crawls this week 51 (47 loggerheads, 4 greens)
2025 Total Nests 459 (450 loggerheads, 9 greens)
2025 Total False Crawls 740 (715 loggerheads, 25 greens)
2025 Hatched Nests NA (16 loggerheads, 0 greens)
2025 Hatchlings Produced 548 (548 loggerheads, 0 greens)
2025 Adult Disorientations 24 (23 loggerheads, 1 green)
2025 Hatchling Disorientations 2 (2 loggerheads, 0 greens)

It looks like we are seeing a decline in nests and an increase in hatches which is about right for this time of year. We are excited that we have surpassed 2023’s nest numbers and hopeful that we will break 500 nests for the year.

Nest Tampering

This week we got a report regarding a nest that was hatching and people were tampering with the nest site and possibly the hatchings and using white flashlights on the beach. We remind everyone that sea turtles are listed under the Endangered Species Act and protected by both State and Federal laws. AMITW staff and volunteers must go through extensive training to be listed on an FWC Marine Turtle Permit that allows us to work with sea turtles and their nests. Tampering with sea turtles, their nests, eggs, or hatchlings is all against the law. Signs are posted on all nests to identify them as sea turtle nests and clearly state “Do Not Disturb.” Please respect all posted nests and keep a distance from them. If you see someone tampering with a nest, FWC’s Wildlife Alert Hotline at 888-404-3922 or the local police department. If you see a sea turtle in distress, please call our 24/7 hotline at 941-301-8434.

Remember our Do’s and Don’ts to Protect Sea Turtles:

Do:

Shield or turn off outdoor lights that are visible on the beach and close drapes after dark.
Remove all beach furniture and toys from the beach at night.
Fill in holes and knock down sandcastles that may impede hatchlings on their way to the water.
Respect posted areas. Keep away from nesting areas and use designated walkways.
Place trash in its proper place and do not feed wildlife. Food scraps attract predators such as racoons and crows to the beaches. Litter on beaches can entangle birds and turtles.
If you encounter a nesting turtle, remain quiet and observe from a distance.
Call AMITW at 941-301-8434 or FWC at 888-404-3922 if you find a turtle (adult or hatchling) in distress.
Spread the word! If you see people disturbing nesting birds, sea turtles, or nest sites, gently remind them how their actions may hurt the animals’ survival. If they continue to disturb, please call and report their activities to FWC’s Wildlife Alert hotline at 888-404-FWCC (3922).

Do Not:

Use flashlights, cellphones, flash photography or fishing lamps on the beach.
Encourage a turtle to move while nesting or pick up hatchlings that have emerged.
Use fireworks on the beach. Lights from sparklers and fireworks and disorient sea turtles.
Approach nesting turtles or emerging hatchlings, make noise, or shine lights at turtles.

Photos:

TentOnNest- A tent was observed broken over a sea turtle nest site and reported to local Code Enforcement. Tents and beach furniture should be removed from the beach nightly so they don’t pose an entanglement hazard for sea turtles. Credit: Hans Uwe Duerr

Gopher Tortoise Track – A gopher tortoise track was observed over a sea turtle nest site. The Gopher tortoise is a protected land tortoise commonly found on the beach on Anna Maria Island and mistaken for sea turtles. Please don’t put them in the water! Credit: Alexis Demetropoulos

Hatchling – A loggerhead sea turtle hatchling found in one of the first nest excavations of this season makes its first crawl down the beach. Credit: Amy Waterbury

Excavation – Volunteers Hans Uwe Duerr and Birgit Kremer conduct an excavation three days after this nest hatched, with onlookers volunteers Kathy Noonan, Elsa Rohow, and Peggy Welch. Credit: Amy Waterbury