Sea turtle nesting season is winding down on Anna Maria Island, with just five nests remaining on the beach as of Oct. 2 and the number of hatchlings produced this year is substantially lower than in the previous two seasons.
According to Anna Maria Island Turtle Watch and Shorebird Monitoring, two additional nests hatched this week without any hatchlings becoming disoriented. Volunteers also excavated nine nests, adding 151 hatchlings to the season total.
Preliminary figures show 17,513 hatchlings have been produced on Anna Maria Island in 2026, compared with approximately 31,000 in 2025 and about 20,000 in 2024.
Turtle Watch attributes the decline in part to continued beach erosion. Lower beach elevations can make nests more vulnerable to flooding from below, while coyote predation has also affected nests during the season.
Through Oct. 2, volunteers had documented 460 nests and 567 false crawls. Of those nests, 260 had hatched and 342 had been inventoried. The organization also recorded 20 adult turtle disorientations and 90 hatch disorientation events involving an estimated 2,476 to 5,740 hatchlings. A total of 258 disoriented hatchlings were found dead.
Although most nests have now disappeared from the island’s beaches, sea turtle protection requirements remain in effect through Oct. 31.
Residents, visitors and vacation rental operators are being reminded to keep beachfront areas dark at night. Nonessential and decorative lights should be turned off, outdoor fixtures should be shielded from the beach, and visible lighting should be replaced with turtle-friendly alternatives. Curtains and blinds should be closed after sunset to prevent interior lighting from reaching the beach.
Beachgoers should also avoid flashlights, cell phone lights and other artificial lighting at night, while vehicles should not be parked with headlights facing the beach. Rental property owners can obtain free educational materials from Turtle Watch to provide to guests.
Property owners are also encouraged to use the winter months to evaluate their outdoor lighting and make needed changes before the 2027 nesting season begins.
Anyone who finds a wayward hatchling or an injured or dead sea turtle on Anna Maria Island should contact the Turtle Watch 24-hour hotline at 941-301-8434.
Suzi Fox Turtle Watch Wednesday Fundraiser Set for Oct. 21
Anna Maria Island Turtle Watch will hold its seventh annual Suzi Fox Turtle Watch Wednesday fundraiser from 4 to 6 p.m., Oct. 21, at Hurricane Hanks, 5346 Gulf Drive in Holmes Beach.
The fundraiser is free and open to the public and will feature live music, silent and live auctions and other fundraising activities benefiting the organization’s sea turtle conservation work.
VIP tickets are available for $80 and include an indoor, air-conditioned seat at Hurricane Hanks, a swag bag and a complimentary drink ticket. Limited VIP tickets remained available at the time of the announcement. Tickets can be purchased by calling Linda at 863-287-1133.
The first 50 guests will also receive a complimentary beer or wine coupon provided by A Paradise Realty and Vacation Rentals.
Those interested in making an in-kind donation for the fundraiser can contact Anna Maria Island Turtle Watch at 941-301-8434.
