Baby Sea Turtles Begin Journey to the Sea as Hatching Season Peaks on Anna Maria Island
Hatching season is in full swing on Anna Maria Island, with more than 2,600 sea turtle hatchlings already making their way to the ocean. The Anna Maria Island Turtle Watch, which monitors nesting activity throughout the season, has recorded 502 nests to date, with most of them belonging to loggerhead turtles. Among them are 12 green turtle nests, matching the 2023 record and on pace to break it in the coming days.
While the season is still far from the 20,000 hatchlings that emerged in 2024, the number is expected to climb rapidly as more nests reach maturity. As hatching activity intensifies, turtle watch volunteers are also seeing a rise in “disorientations,” incidents where hatchlings lose their way and fail to reach the ocean.
In one recent case, a hatchling became stuck in a small hole left on the beach. Volunteers were able to rescue it just in time, preventing what could have been a fatal outcome due to heat exposure. The Turtle Watch urges beachgoers to help by filling in holes and removing obstacles that might hinder the hatchlings' path.
Some disoriented turtles have also ended up in residential swimming pools, leading to rescue and rehabilitation at Mote Marine Laboratory & Aquarium after exposure to chlorine. Residents living near the beach are encouraged to check their pools and skimmers daily during nesting season.
Anyone who encounters a sea turtle—hatchling or adult—that appears to be in distress or out of place is asked to call the Turtle Watch rescue hotline at 941-301-8434, which is staffed 24 hours a day, 7 days a week.
As nesting season continues, the Anna Maria Island community plays a vital role in ensuring the safety and survival of these vulnerable marine creatures as they take their first steps toward the sea.