JACKSONVILLE, Fla. — For loggerhead, green turtle (nesting typically begins in June) and leatherback sea turtles nesting season has started.
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According to the Sea Turtle Hospital at UF Whitney Lab, a majority of nesting occurs between May 1 and Oct. 31. Ninety percent of all sea turtle nesting in the United States takes place right here in Florida.
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It remains crucial for both residents and visitors alike to do their part to ensure that sea turtles have a safe and successful nesting season.
Related Story: The city of Jacksonville Beach is prepared for Sea Turtle Nesting Season
Here are some easy tips to help sea turtles during this critical time of the year:
- Lights out at 9 p.m.! Flashlights are strongly discouraged as they can disorientate nesting females and emerging hatchlings!
- Leave only your footprints! Large holes and sandcastles are huge obstacles for our flippered friends. Nesting females can easily get stuck in a hole and emerging hatchlings could easily get confused by a sandcastle.
- Don’t trash where you splash! This one is year-round. Always carry out what you carry in. Keep our beaches clean.
- Never approach sea turtles emerging from, or returning to the sea. Our females are exhausted and have traveled thousands of miles to return home to nest.
- Program your phone with FWC Wildlife Alert Number at 1-888-404-3922 so you’ll be prepared if you happen to encounter a sick or injured sea turtle.
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