Loggerhead Sea Turtles on Fort Myers Beach

The Conservancy of Southwest Florida Sea Turtle Monitoring and protection Program, now in its 26th year, wants all residents and visitors to help during the nesting season by turning off or shielding lights which can be seen from the beach. Young hatchlings naturally crawl toward the light and thereby not make it to the waters of the Gulf. Experts estimate that only 1 hatchling out of 1,000 ( some say as high as 10,000 ) reach adulthood. This species are protected by the Federal Endangered Species Act which makes it a crime to touch or disturb nesting sea turtles, hatchlings or nests. The Florida turtle nesting season runs from May 1 through Oct 31. Adults may reach 350 pounds, eat shellfish, horseshoe crabs, clams, mussels and other invertebrates. Fishing, coastal development, pollution, plastic bags, etc pose a threat to these peaceful annual visitors from afar. To date on Fort Myers Beachthere are 26 nest sightings.