It may finally be safe to say nesting is finished on Sanibel
and Captiva. Although, the last time that thought crossed our minds another
green turtle kindly came ashore and proved us wrong! It is been over two weeks
since the last nest was laid and more than a month since the last loggerhead
came ashore.
Hatching is continuing in earnest, but should begin slowing in the
next few weeks. To date, there have been 348 nests laid on Sanibel (327 loggerhead
and 21 green turtle nests) and 130 nests laid on Captiva (128 loggerhead and 2 green
turtle nests. This is the THIRD highest nesting year for the Islands and the
BEST nesting year for green turtles! So far, 311 nests have hatched between Sanibel and Captiva and we're patiently monitoring the 75 nests that remain on our beaches.
This success would not be possible without the visitors and residents of the Islands practicing sea turtle friendly behaviors. For that, we’d like to say THANK YOU! Keep in mind that turtle season isn’t over, though, and keeping beachfront lighting to a minimum is essential so we can guarantee a safe nest to Gulf trip for the remaining hatchlings.
This success would not be possible without the visitors and residents of the Islands practicing sea turtle friendly behaviors. For that, we’d like to say THANK YOU! Keep in mind that turtle season isn’t over, though, and keeping beachfront lighting to a minimum is essential so we can guarantee a safe nest to Gulf trip for the remaining hatchlings.
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| Loggerhead nest with predator exclusion screen. Look at all the hatchling tracks leaving the nest and headed straight for the Gulf! |
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| Green turtle hatchling awaiting its nighttime release. |
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| Loggerhead hatchling crawling to the Gulf at sunrise. |
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| Tracks of the last green turtle nest laid on Sanibel. |
