Sea turtle nesting season officially ends Oct. 31, but Anna Maria Island will see nests hatching far into November.
During turtle season, beachside residences and businesses are tasked with using turtle-friendly amber or red bulbs in exterior light fixtures. Residents and visitors also are asked to remove debris and items from the beach, such as chairs, and filling in holes to protect nesting and hatching sea turtles.
Once season ends, so do some of the legal requirements that help sea turtles to make it safely to the Gulf of Mexico.
To protect the after-season hatchlings, Anna Maria Island Turtle Watch and Shorebird Monitoring is asking people to be aware of turtle nests after season ends.
“We want people to be aware of their surroundings,” said Suzi Fox, executive director of AMITW.
As of Sept. 20, AMITW reported 41 nests still unhatched on island beaches, with several not expected to hatch until mid-November.
Fox asked people to remain turtle-friendly as long as possible.
“Each one of these hatchlings is important,” she said.
One out of every 1,000 hatchlings makes it to adulthood. Each sea turtle nest holds about 100 eggs.
There are several things people can do to help protect the sea turtle hatchlings.
Remove items and debris from the beach when leaving for the day. Fill in holes in the sand. Maintain turtle-friendly outdoor lighting until nests in the area have hatched and been excavated.
Nests typically hatch at night, when conditions are cooler and hatchlings can use the reflection of the moon on the water to guide themselves to the Gulf. White lightbulbs can confuse hatchlings, causing them to crawl away from the water toward populated areas and, potentially, their deaths.
Fox said AMITW has shields that can be placed around some vulnerable turtle nests close to hatching if white lightbulbs are visible from the beach, though this may not provide the best protection from disorientation for hatchlings.
Mote Marine Laboratory and Aquarium’s Sea Turtle Patrol also is reporting a record-breaking year.
Mote’s Sea Turtle Patrol reported a preliminary count from Longboat Key of 2,433 loggerhead sea turtle nests Sept. 16 and 36 confirmed green turtle nests.
The previous record for green turtle nests in a season on Longboat Key was 30 in 2013.
Mote’s Hatchling Hospital also has been busy this season, taking in a record 2,200 turtle hatchlings, 450 of which remained for treatment for a period before being safely released to the Gulf.
Mote’s Sea Turtle Patrol offers some tips for keeping turtles and hatchlings safe during and after season.
Anyone who encounters a nesting turtle or hatchlings crossing the beach should watch quietly from a distance. Shield or turn off outdoor lights visible from the beach or use turtle-friendly bulbs when turtle nests are in the area during or after season. Close drapes or blinds after dark if lights are visible from the beach. Remove beach furniture at night and properly dispose of debris.
Do not use lights or fishing lamps on the beach and do not shine lights at turtles. Don’t approach nesting turtles or pick up hatchlings that are crawling toward the water.
If turtles appear to be in distress, contact turtle watch, either Mote’s Sea Turtle Patrol at 941-388-4331 or AMITW at 941-778-5638.
