Anna Maria Island Sea Turtle Nesting Holds Steady as Activity Expected to Rise

Sea turtle nesting activity on Anna Maria Island remained consistent over the past week, with wildlife monitors reporting dozens of new loggerhead nests as the season continues to gain momentum.

According to Anna Maria Island Turtle Watch and Shorebird Monitoring, volunteers documented 47 new loggerhead sea turtle nests and 44 loggerhead false crawls between May 30 and June 5. A false crawl occurs when a turtle comes ashore but returns to the water without laying eggs.

Season totals now stand at 127 loggerhead nests and 131 false crawls. No green sea turtle nests or false crawls have been recorded on the island so far this year.

While nesting numbers remained similar to the previous week, turtle monitors said daily activity is beginning to increase and expect the number of nesting turtles to grow over the coming weeks as the season reaches its peak.

Volunteers are also raising concerns about conditions on local beaches, citing an increase in trash and large holes left behind overnight.

Discarded trash can pose serious hazards to nesting sea turtles by causing entanglement, while deep holes can trap both adult turtles and hatchlings, increasing their risk of predation, injury and dehydration.

To help protect nesting sea turtles, Anna Maria Island Turtle Watch is encouraging residents and visitors to leave beaches clean, flat and dark after sunset. Beach furniture, toys, tents and canopies should be removed each evening, and any holes dug in the sand should be filled before leaving.

Sea turtle nesting season runs from May through October, with loggerhead turtles being the most common species nesting along Florida’s Gulf Coast. Wildlife officials say simple actions by beachgoers can play a significant role in helping protect nesting turtles and their hatchlings throughout the season.