Escambia County is Expecting…Sea Turtle Hatchlings!

Escambia County’s nesting season has just passed its halfway mark, with a total of 19 nests on Pensacola Beach and four on Perdido Key. Of the 23 nests discovered, 22 are Loggerhead with one Green nest on Pensacola Beach. While the season got off to a slow start, nesting activity picked up through June and July.

"As we approach the peak of nesting season, Escambia County wants to remind beachgoers to 'Leave Only Footprints' for the safety of hatchling sea turtles," said Marine Resources Division Manager Captain Robert Turpin. "Nesting may occur through the late summer; however, the first nests are expected to hatch in early August. Sea turtle hatchlings face many threats on their first trip to the Gulf, both natural and human-caused so we are asking everyone to do their part to protect hatchling turtles."

Remember:

• Lights Out! Both hatchlings and nesting turtles need dark beaches to find the Gulf of Mexico. Leave the flashlights and cell phones at home or use a red flashlight when on the beach at night. Turn off exterior lights and close windows and curtains to keep our beaches dark.
• Leave Only Footprints! Remove all furniture and toys from the beach when you’re done for the day, including hammocks, tents, canopies, chairs, toys and sports equipment.
• If You Dig it, Fill It! Large holes, trenches and moats create dangerous obstacles for hatchling and nesting sea turtles. Avoid digging large holes on the beach and flatten sandcastles and fill in holes at the end of your day.

Captain Turpin added, "Every hatchling counts! Hatchlings that do not reach the Gulf quickly are easy prey for predators and at risk of dehydration, starvation and death. Only one in 1,000 hatchlings will survive to adulthood."

If you see a nest hatching or encounter hatchlings turtles on the beach, call Escambia County Marine Resources at (850) 426-1257. If you encounter a nesting turtle, turn off all lights and retreat a safe distance away.

If you are a property manager or owner and are interested in how you can make your property more turtle-friendly, please contact Samantha Bolduc at (850) 595-3460 or smbolduc@myescambia.com. For more information about sea turtles in Escambia County visit www.myescambia.com/seaturtles. All sea turtle work performed by Escambia County was completed under Florida Fish and Wildlife Conservation Commission permit #032A.