Sea Turtles

Seat turtles
Adopt a Sea Turtle Nest

All sea turtles species found in US waters are listed as threatened or endangered. Sea turtle species in Florida include Leatherback (Dermochelys coriacea), Green (Chelonia mydas), Hawksbill (Eretmochelys imbricata), and Kemp’s Ridley (Lepidochelys kempii), but by far the most common visitor to St. Vincent NWR is the Loggerhead (Caretta caretta).

The Loggerhead is named for its wide head and powerful jaws. These turtles typically weigh 250 pounds or more and measure 35-50 inches in length. An individual turtle may migrate for thousands of miles. Approximately 80% of loggerhead turtles found in U.S. waters use Florida beaches due to the primarily sub-tropical or temperate waters and return to their own birth beach 17-35 years later to nest and lay eggs.

It is estimated that only one sea turtle in 1,000 to 10,000 will survive into adulthood. Severe weather events, predators such as crabs, raccoons, coyotes and pigs pose a huge threat to the eggs and destruction of the nest. Once hatched, young turtles continue to face a host of threats from nature and human activity. Human-caused hazards including consumption, shell trade, accidental fishing captures from longline, shrimp trawls, and gill nets account for an estimated mortality in the hundreds of thousands each year. Turtle Excluder Devices (TEDs) are required in the U.S. trawl nets and are credited with helping reduce the mortality. Additionally, marine debris causes harm through ingestion or entanglement; artificial lighting from coastal development poses disorientation risks (injuries from traffic/structure) and discourages nesting; climate change is eroding the coasts and property owners are responding by building sea walls and armament which repel turtle access to prior nesting sites.

As an uninhabited barrier island, St. Vincent National Wildlife Refuge presents a haven for many threatened and endangered species, including sea turtles. Nesting activity is monitored along nine miles of the island’s Gulf beach from May 1st to October 31st as part of Florida’s Statewide Beach Survey program and the Index Nesting Beach Survey program. Surveys are conducted according to strict protocol to ensure best practices for data collection, nest protection and hatchling success. Once a nest is confirmed, wire self-release cages are installed to protect from predator infringement. St. Vincent is pleased to report these efforts contributed to the successful 2015 nesting summary tally of 57 loggerhead nests with 2,300 hatchings. 

For more information regarding sea turtles and St. Vincent National Wildlife Refuge, please refer to: