Wildlife in Paradise - The Sea Turtles of Southwest Florida
Did you know…
…Southwest Florida is a nesting ground for five of the seven species of sea turtles? It’s true! Every year our beaches are visited by gigantic leatherback turtles and iconic loggerhead turtles, as well as hawksbill turtles, green turtles, and Kemp’s Ridley turtles. Beginning in late April, and continuing through October, we play host to thousands of nesting mothers and then to tens of thousands of adorable babies!
Sea turtles are all about balance…
…with each species filling a vital role in maintaining healthy, robust beaches and fishing areas. Southwest Florida is beautiful, and these native species help keep it that way.
- Leatherbacks feast on jelly fish, who feed on larval fish and would otherwise quickly decimate local fish populations.
- Loggerheads, named for their enormous and powerful jaws, leave behind a trail of crustacean shells cracked into tiny pieces that will quickly breakdown and enrich the ocean floor.
- Hawksbills prefer the taste of fast growing sea sponges, gobbling them down before they can overgrow and suffocate the coral reefs that host so many beautiful (and delicious!) fish and shellfish.
- Green turtles graze on seagrass, pruning and maintaining the shallow water seabeds that stabilize the ocean bottom and prevent erosion from tides and storms.
- Kemp’s Ridley turtles spend a significant portion of their adolescence in coastal estuaries, foraging on a wide variety of small prey and contributing to the overall well-being of these broad natural filtration systems.
…by giving them the space to do what they do best. This can seem inconvenient at times, but it keeps our beaches beautiful and our fish plentiful!
- Stay away from sea turtle nests, which are marked with yellow stakes and tape.
- Remove large items and (as always) trash from the beach each evening, and fill any holes you may have dug.
- Avoid fireworks, loud music, and any other noises that may frighten nesting turtles away.
- Shield or turn off outdoor lights visible from the beach during nesting and hatching season. “Safe” lights are available in low spectrum colors that do not create interference.
- Finally, if you are fortunate enough to encounter hatching sea turtles, resist the temptation to “help” them along. They need to build their strength and learn to navigate on their own.
If you’d like to learn more about our sea turtles, watch for nesting updates provided by the MOTE Marine Library and Aquarium.