Escambia County Sea Turtle Conservation Program volunteers greeted the sun early this morning, May 1, as they officially welcomed the start of sea turtle nesting season. Today marked their first daily morning patrol on Pensacola Beach and Perdido Key, looking for nesting and other turtle activity occurring overnight.

Volunteers start their patrols at first light to have the best chance of spotting tracks, nests, and other turtle activity before footprints, wind, and waves obscure the tracks. Volunteers and staff will continue to check on nests during the incubation period, ensuring they remain undisturbed and remain on stand-by to assist with strandings and other turtle-related incidents. The nesting season will run through September, although late season nests can hatch as late as October.

Four species of sea turtle nest in Escambia County. The loggerhead and green sea turtles are the most common nesters, followed by the less common Kemp's ridley and leatherback. Female turtles will make their way onto the beaches through early summer and may nest several times in a single season.

After 60 days of incubation, the tiny hatchling turtles will emerge all at once under cover of darkness and race to the Gulf of Mexico. The hatchlings will make their way to open water with fewer predators. After a few years of growing and feeding, they will return to the area as juveniles and sub-adults. Here, they will continue to grow and feed until they are mature enough to mate and lay their nests. Juvenile and adult sea turtles can often be seen foraging in the bays and sounds, including near local fishing piers and artificial reefs.

However, sea turtles aren't the only summertime visitors. Several species of shorebirds nest on local beaches in the summer months, including the least tern, snowy plover and black skimmer. Shorebird nests are shallow scrapes in the sand with tiny, well-camouflaged eggs. Eggs will incubate up to 30 days before the small, cotton ball-like chicks hatch. Parents often sit on the eggs with newly hatched chicks to protect them from predators and the hot Florida sun. Keep in mind that people and pets approaching too close disturb birds.

In addition, summer is a busy tourist season, and big crowds can have significant impacts on sea turtles, shorebirds, and other coastal wildlife.

Help Protect Our Coastal Wildlife by Remembering:

• Lights Out: Bright lights can disturb nesting sea turtles and disorient adults and hatchlings on the beach. When visiting the beach after dark, keep cell phones and flashlights off. Instead, use a red flashlight or no light at all. For beachfront homes, turn off exterior lights when not in use and keep blinds and curtains shut after sunset.
  
• Leave Only Footprints: Help keep the beaches obstacle-free for nesting and hatchling turtles. All personal items, including chairs, tents, umbrellas, toys, and water equipment, must be removed from the beach by sunset each day. Make sure to fill in holes and flatten any sandcastles.
  
• Share the Beach: Stay out of posted nesting areas and avoid setting up belongings on the edges of marked areas. Avoid disturbing birds resting on the beach; if you see a nesting sea turtle, give it space. Do not handle sea turtle or shorebird eggs and hatchlings. Dogs are only allowed in designated beach dog parks and must always be kept on a leash.

For more information about sea turtles and other coastal wildlife in Escambia County, check out MyEscambia.com/seaturtles and follow the Escambia County Natural Resources Management Department on Facebook and Instagram.

Dead or injured sea turtles and marine life should be reported to Escambia County Marine Resources at (850) 426-1257 or the FWC Wildlife Alert line at 1-888-404-FWCC (3922). All sea turtle work is performed under Marine Turtle Permits #032 and #202.

Sea turtle program volunteers monitor sea turtle tracks during the 2023 season.

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