Sea turtle nesting numbers jump in week’s time
While residents and tourists on Fort Myers Beach and Bonita Beach suffered through some nasty weather during the last week of August, another Beach-going species was enjoying a solid week with its long-standing ritual.
A combined 17 sea turtle nests hatched between the mornings of Aug. 23 to Aug 30 on the two neighboring beaches. The Beach nest count jumped from 12 to 20, while Bonita Beach increased from 30 to 39 nests during that time. Since that time, a total of 21 nests have hatched on the Beach and 42 on Bonita Beach.
In the early morning, Turtle Time volunteers monitor these beaches along with Big Hickory Island and Bunche Beach. The recent increase in hatched nests has kept them busy with the excavation process. One part of that process is to record the amount of hatchlings that spring from the 100-plus eggs.
“It has kept us busy, but that’s the fun part,” said Turtle Time founder Eve Haverfield. “These nests have survived several storms. People have been very responsive to the lighting regulations.”
The so-called Turtle Lady applauds FMB Environmental Sciences Coordinator Keith Laakkonen and Turtle Time volunteers for educating people about the intricacies of the sea turtle season that runs from May 1 to October 31.
“We are happy to report that no nests have disorientations and all hatchlings have made it to straight to the water,” said Haverfield. “We hope that will continue for the remainder of the season.”
Between the two beaches, Bonita Beach recorded its first hatched nest on June 24. That nest had 103 hatchlings out of 116 eggs make it to the Gulf. Fort Myers Beach didn’t post its first hatched nest until July 27, nearly one month after Bonita Beach and nearly three months or halfway into the season. Only 94 hatchlings made it safely out of that nest due to an infestation of ghost crabs and fire ants.
“It all depends on where the first turtles decide to nest,” said Haverfield. “Fire ants we can manage, but ghost crabs have been a challenge for us.”
Sea turtle nesting usually reflects a cyclical pattern. In 2008, Turtle Time volunteers recorded 44 nests on Fort Myers Beach compared to 11 nests in 2009. Last year, 23 nests were found on the Beach during the season. But this year, the up-and-down pattern has been broken with 28 nests recorded.
“The upswing is statewide. That is really encouraging to conservationists,” said Haverfield.
Turtle Time would like to ensure sea turtles continue to flourish. As always, there are preventive measures to help these little creatures reach the Gulf and swim to safety. When a hatchling emerges, his first instinct is to go to the natural light of the night’s horizon. But, in some cases, artificial lighting fools these baby sea turtles.
To combat that, outdoor lights should be shielded by placing non-transparent canisters like wooden boxes or air-conditioning quilted foils or air-conditioning quilted foils around them.
“It is absolutely imperative that people either turn off or shield their lights, close their drapes or use five watt amber LEDS,” Haverfield said. “During sea turtle nesting season, no light may be visible from the beach.”
Also at night, furniture and any other object should be removed from the beach and stored behind dune vegetation or up close to beach homes. Sea turtles become entangled in beach furniture, trash or other beach items during disorientations.
Other cautions include avoiding the use of flashlights, lanterns or flash photography while on the beach at night. Remember, touching or disturbing nesting sea turtles, hatchlings or their nests is illegal. State and Federal Laws protect sea turtles.
For conservation materials, questions regarding sea turtles or to report a nest or crawl, contact Turtle Time at 481-5566. If anybody would like information in terms of lighting and/or code enforcement, contact Town Environmental Sciences Coordinator Keith Laakkonen at 765-0202.