Local Nest Numbers Increase

After two years of dismal turtle nesting seasons in Southwest Florida, there are pockets of success this year.The biggest improvement is on Sanibel and Captiva where there are more than 330 nests compared to about 150 last year.

There were 106 nests on Captiva as of Monday. There were 50 the same time last year. The west end of Sanibel has more 200, which is almost 100 more than last year, while the 30 nests on the island’s east end is about the same as last year.

Why this year is better on Sanibel is a mystery.“We have no idea. We would love to have some explanation,’’ said Amanda Bryant, a biologist with the Sanibel-Captiva Conservation Foundation.But she’s happy to take what is happening.

The same is true on Fort Myers Beach where 34 nests have been laid. Last year during the entire season, there were only eight nests there. “It’s quadruple,” said Eve Haverfield, president and founder of Turtle Time, a volunteer group that monitors sea turtles in this area. “It’s a turtle friendly year there.

Bonita Beach is having an average year.So far, turtles have laid 41 nests in Bonita. That’s more than the 38 nests laid during all of 2007, but fewer than the 60 to 105 nests laid between 1998 and 2004.

This year, turtles laid 165 nests on the island, compared to 105 last year. Barefoot Beach in the Collier County section of Bonita Springs boasts 53 nests, up from 36 last year, and Vanderbilt Beach in North Naples has 72 nests, much higher than the 36 in 2007.

Now it’s a waiting game to make sure the nests hatch before any major storms.


Please take the time to read the article in full at the News-Press site, and look through the amazing photo gallery they have there too. Below is an example.


Many sea turtles are found with fishing hook or fishing line injuries. I'm sure many are not found and die a horrible death. Very sad.



This 80-pound loggerhead sea turtle was rescued, wrapped in a rope and with 300-pound-test fishing line in its mouth. It was taken to the Clearwater Marine Aquarium, where the hook will be removed.