Florida’s loggerhead turtles hatch in great numbers

July 22, 2020

The Sanibel Captiva Conservation Foundation, one of the longest running sea turtle conservancy programs in the U.S., is reporting one of its largest nesting seasons for baby loggerheads in Florida this year. And there’s speculation that COVID-19 could be a contributing factor, as it’s keeping humans inside, away from disturbing the turtles’ natural habitat.

This season (which still isn't over), the foundation has already surpassed its 2019 numbers, with 531 nests on Sanibel Beach and 218 nests on Captiva Island, compared to 521 and 148 in 2019, respectively. That makes for the emergence of over 3,000 hatchlings—and counting—for the SCCF this year. “It’s encouraging to see high hatch rates from so many of our nests,” Coastal Wildlife Director Kelly Sloan said.

And the SCCF isn’t the only organization to see an uptick in nests this year. Researchers believe that, aside from the coronavirus-related speculations, conservation laws put into effect over the last few decades are finally starting to pay off.

https://www.prevention.com/life/a33298959/florida-loggerhead-sea-turtle-hatchlings-2020/

Beaufort County’s population of animals with four adorable flippers grew by hundreds Thursday morning. Two sea turtle nests on Hilton Head Island and one nest on Hunting Island State Park hatched, and the tiny turtles made their way to the ocean.

The nests, laid by Loggerhead sea turtles about two months ago, have been monitored by the Sea Turtle Patrol and the Friends of Hunting Island State Park. Volunteers on Hilton Head captured photos of hundreds of tracks to the ocean and photos of the baby turtles flipping in the surf on Hunting Island. Hilton Head has reported 246 Loggerhead turtle nests so far this year. Hunting Island has reported 118. The first sea turtle eggs in South Carolina hatched on July 11 on Kiawah Island.

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