2024 Florida Sea Turtle Nesting Season Begins May 1

Sea turtle hatchlings. Credit: FWC

SARASOTA COUNTY, Florida - May 1 is the official start of the sea turtle nesting season in Florida, according to the Florida Fish and Wildlife Commission.

Exactly when sea turtle nesting season starts depends on where you are in the Sunshine State.

While it begins in March on the Atlantic coast, it starts later in the spring in late April or May along the Gulf coast. 

Yet wherever you are in Florida, what you do on the beach can make a significant difference on whether sea turtles nest successfully.

From now through the end of October, three different species of sea turtle will land on Florida’s Atlantic and Gulf coast beaches to lay their eggs.

MARCH – JULY: Leatherback sea turtles begin to come ashore from March through July to lay their eggs. 

Florida is the only state in the continental U.S. where leatherback sea turtles regularly nest. With the exception of a few nests on the west coast, leatherbacks nest almost exclusively on the east coast of Florida. About 50 percent of leatherback nesting occurs in Palm Beach County.

APRIL – SEPTEMBER: Loggerhead sea turtles typically nest in Florida from April through September. 

In the United States, 90 percent of all loggerhead nesting occurs in Florida. The majority of this nesting takes place on the east coast of Florida.

JUNE – SEPTEMBER: Green sea turtle nesting in Florida occurs from June through late September with the highest concentration of nests along Florida’s east coast – but green turtle nests have been found in every coastal county of the Sunshine State.

MINIMIZE HUMAN IMPACT ON SEA TURTLE NESTING

Because our state’s shorelines are critical for sea turtle and waterbird nesting, beachgoers can have a big impact on their nesting success. To help nesting sea turtles and waterbirds, give them space, minimize disturbances, and keep beaches clean and dark.

Obstacles on the beach can prevent sea turtles from nesting as they crawl across the sand to lay their eggs. 

Trash, holes in the sand and other obstacles can also prevent sea turtle hatchlings from reaching the water once they emerge from their nests. 

Food scraps attract predators, such as raccoons and crows, that prey on sea turtle hatchlings, shorebird eggs and chicks. 

Litter on beaches can entangle sea turtles, birds and other wildlife. Beachgoers can help our native wildlife by stashing all trash, filling in human-made holes in the sand, and removing boats, beach toys and furniture from the beach before sunset.

Any lighting can misdirect and disturb nesting sea turtles and their hatchlings, leading them away from the ocean and toward potential danger. Beachgoers should use natural starlight to see on the beach at night and avoid using flashlights or cellphones.