Sea turtles are beginning to hatch in southwest Florida

SOUTHWEST FLORIDA – It’s the biggest time of year for one of the SWFL’s smallest reptiles. Sea turtles have started to emerge from their nest and into the ocean.

“Last year was a huge record year and we’re not quite at that level, but I think we will be the second best year yet,” said Coastal Wildlife Director Kelly Sloan

Sloan said she and members of the Sanibel-Captiva Conservation Foundation are currently monitoring more than 550 sea turtle nests.

The team said they are paying special attention to the nests after Tropical Storm Elsa.

“Most of our beaches were underwater during the storm because of the wind and we couldn’t do our normal Wednesday morning surveys because it was too dangerous, but once the conditions were safer we probably had ten people to go out and look at the beach Access damage, ”Sloan said.

But the storms aren’t the only threat the hatchlings face this season.

“You face so many threats, and most of them are human,” Sloan said.

Experts say you can do your part by turning off lights, filling holes, and removing furniture on the beach at night.

See similar https://nbc-2.com/news/2021/07/13/sea-turtles-begin-hatching-in-southwest-florida/

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