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At the Escambia Board of County Commissioners Meeting on Thursday, Nov. 4, the volunteers of the 2021 Sea Turtle Conservation Program were recognized for their hard work and conservation efforts for marine life in Escambia County. The volunteers recognized were Stephanie Allen, Connie Bednar, Jay Bonanno, Jon Brandon, Christine Brewster, Kim Carmody, Jenny Diamond, Tonya Duke, Holly Forrester, Kelly Gontarski, Monica Hardin, Emily Hoeflich, Wendy Hoeflich, Jodi Hofer, Bonnie Kershaw, Brian Kershaw, Cindy Marvel, Kitsie Biggerstaff-Mott, Jennifer Polus, John Powanda, Terry Preston, Sean Rogan, Trish Robertson, Brenda Sexton, Lisa Sheehy, Rick Sheehy, Melanie Waite and DJ Zemenick.
Volunteers marked and monitored 28 nests this season. Tropical storm and hurricane activity contributed to low hatching success across both islands, but there were few bright spots over the season. On Aug. 29, volunteers were lucky enough to be on hand when a nest hatched as Hurricane Ida made landfall in Louisiana. Though the nest hatched successfully on its own, rough surf conditions from the storm forced volunteers to transport the 128 hatchlings to the Gulfarium C.A.R.E. Center in Fort Walton Beach, where they waited out the storm before being released into open water. And, on the evening of Monday, Nov. 1, volunteers and staff assessed the final nest of the season, laid high enough on the beach to escape the worst of the season’s storm surge. 78 eggs successfully hatched, with six live hatchlings found inside the nest.
Volunteers contributed over 1,000 hours this season to daily morning patrols, nest monitoring and community outreach. In addition to conservation efforts, patrol and ambassador volunteers also responded to hooked and stranded turtles and continued “Leave Only Footprints” and “Lights Out” education efforts on Pensacola Beach and Perdido Key.
“Our efforts would not be possible without our volunteers,” said Marine Resources Manager Captain Robert Turpin. “Every year, our county staff works with an enthusiastic group of volunteers who are just as dedicated to protecting and preserving sea turtles as we are. Sea turtle season runs through November, and we look forward to our continued efforts next year.”
Learn more about the sea turtle conservation program here. Follow Escambia County Natural Resources Management on Facebook to stay up to date on environmental and natural resources conservation efforts in the county.
All sea turtle work performed by Escambia County was completed Florida Fish and Wildlife Conservation Commission Permit #032a.
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