Sea Turtle Season Ponte Vedra Beach

Hey y'all! It's that time of the year again - sea turtle season in Jacksonville and Ponte Vedra Beach! These amazing creatures come to our beaches from May to October to lay their eggs, and it's up to us to help protect them. Here are some fun and easy ways you can do your part:

  1. Lights out - Sea turtles rely on natural light to find their way to and from the ocean. Bright lights from our homes and businesses can confuse them and lead them away from the water. So, let's turn off all outdoor lights or switch to turtle-friendly amber LED lights to keep our turtle friends on the right path.
  2. Keep the beach clear - Sea turtles need plenty of room to lay their eggs. So, let's clean up our beach equipment and keep the area free of any obstacles that may block their path.
  3. Respect the dunes - The dunes are a critical nesting area for sea turtles, so stick to the designated walkways and give these amazing creatures the space they need.
  4. Fill holes - Nesting females or new hatchlings can get trapped by falling into holes dug in the sand by beach lovers. Trapped babies are an easy meal for birds.  If you play in the sand, make sure to fill in the holes so a sea turtle doesn’t fall in. This is good, year-round advise. People step in those holes and hurt themselves too!
  5. Report any sea turtle activity - If you see a sea turtle or evidence of sea turtle activity, such as tracks or nests, report it to the Florida Fish and Wildlife Conservation Commission (FWC) at 1-888-404-FWCC (3922). The FWC monitors sea turtle populations and relies on public reports to gather important data.
  6. Adopt a nest - If you want to go the extra mile, you can visit the Adopt A Nest website of the GTM Research. Reserve and help protect sea turtle nests directly. By adopting a nest, you can support the efforts of local conservationists and make a real difference in the survival of these incredible creatures.
  7. Join a Turtle Patrol - If early morning beach walks are your thing then consider joining a turtle patrol. Volunteers search for turtle nests, then mark, monitor and protect them. They also assist stranded turtle and report when a deceased turtle is found. Visit Mickler's Landing Turtle Patrol or Beaches Sea Turtle Patrol.

By taking these simple steps, we can help ensure the survival of sea turtles for years to come. Living near the ocean or oceanfront is a wonderful privilege. So, let's do our part and show these amazing creatures some love!