{"id":18067,"date":"2025-04-26T14:08:35","date_gmt":"2025-04-26T18:08:35","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/mote.org\/?p=18067"},"modified":"2025-06-20T09:18:26","modified_gmt":"2025-06-20T13:18:26","slug":"mote-marine-laboratory-documents-first-local-sea-turtle-nests-of-the-2025-season","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/mote.org\/news\/mote-marine-laboratory-documents-first-local-sea-turtle-nests-of-the-2025-season\/","title":{"rendered":"Mote Marine Laboratory documents first local sea turtle nests of the 2025 season"},"content":{"rendered":"

Mote Marine Laboratory is excited to announce that its Sea Turtle Conservation and Research Program (STCRP) documented the first local turtle activity of the 2025 season! On Saturday, April 26, STCRP\u2019s Sea Turtle Patrol reported three loggerhead (Caretta caretta<\/em>) sea turtle nests \u2014 one each on Longboat Key, Siesta Key, and Casey Key. These early nests mark the start of an important and exciting time for sea turtle conservation along local beaches.<\/p>\n

\"Nesting
Nesting crawl of a loggerhead sea turtle (Caretta caretta) documented on Siesta Key, April 26.<\/figcaption><\/figure>\n

The dedicated individuals of the Sea Turtle Patrol are at the heart of STCRP\u2019s conservation mission. Comprising STCRP staff, interns, and more than 300 volunteers, the Patrol began its annual monitoring efforts on April 15, two weeks before the technical start of sea turtle nesting season.<\/p>\n

\u201cEven though sea turtle nesting season isn\u2019t officially supposed to start until May 1, we begin patrolling early to ensure we catch the first signs of nesting on our beaches,\u201d said Melissa Macksey, Senior Biologist and Data Manager of STCRP. \u201cThanks to our dedicated volunteers, interns, and staff, we\u2019re able to cover a large stretch of coastline and monitor for early nesters. We couldn\u2019t do it without them.\u201d<\/p>\n

From April 15 through October 31, the Sea Turtle Patrol conducts daily surveys of 35 miles of nesting beaches, from Longboat Key to Venice. Each morning, they scan the sand for signs of nesting activity and document each nest with care and precision. Their commitment is essential to the success of Mote\u2019s long-term nesting research.<\/p>\n

Loggerhead sea turtles are a threatened species protected under the U.S. Endangered Species Act. They are the most commonly observed nesting species in this region, followed by endangered green sea turtles. In recent years, Sarasota County has also occasionally hosted nests from Kemp\u2019s ridleys and leatherback turtles.<\/p>\n

Throughout the nesting season, STCRP staff and volunteers collect detailed data on nesting activity to track long-term trends and assess critical aspects of sea turtle ecology. These include phenological shifts (changes in the timing of nesting), nest density, hatching and emergence success, nest site selection, and the influence of environmental conditions. As in past years, each nest is marked with yellow stakes and flagging tape to prevent disturbances while data collection continues.<\/p>\n

Mote\u2019s monitoring has shown encouraging signs in recent years, including rising nest numbers along local beaches. In 2024, Mote documented nearly 4,400 nests from Longboat Key to Venice.<\/p>\n

To follow along throughout the season, the public can view weekly sea turtle nesting updates at\u00a0www.mote.org\/nesting<\/a>.<\/p>\n

How to protect sea turtles<\/strong><\/p>\n

During nesting season, it is important to keep local waters and beaches sea turtle friendly.
\nSea turtles are swimming just offshore to mate before the females come ashore to nest, juvenile turtles are feeding along the Gulf Coast, and by early summer the first hatchlings will venture into Gulf waters.
\nOn the nesting beaches, light from waterfront properties can disorient nesting female turtles and their young, who emerge at night and use dim natural light to find the sea. Beach furniture, trash, and other obstacles can also impede sea turtles and their young.<\/p>\n

Onshore<\/strong><\/p>\n

Do:<\/p>\n