Sea Turtles Nesting on Marco Island

During June and July, residents and visitors on Marco Island have the chance to see an ancient

ritual re-enacted on the beaches of Marco and the surrounding Islands. This is the peak

reproductive period of the sea turtle, a time when these normally sea dwelling reptiles crawl onto the beach and lay their eggs.

There are five species of sea turtles that live in the Gulf of Mexico. Only one species, the Loggerhead, (Caretta caretta) nests on Marco. It is a threatened species, one step down from the

from the endangered status. The nesting process begins when the turtles mate in the waters near the beach where the female will go ashore to lay her eggs. When she is ready, the female will crawl ashore, drag herself up the beach and look for a suitable nesting site. This activity takes place under the cover of darkness. Sea turtles must dig their nests far enough up the beach so the nest will not wash away at hide tide.

About two months after the the clutch of eggs are laid, the new turtle hatchlings emerge, usually under the cover of night, and begin their journey to the water. Using the contrast of a dark shoreline and the slightly brighter conditions that exist over the water, the newly hatched turtles move down the beach and into the water. When the turtles emerge from their underground nests, light is a critical factor. Before too many of us moved to the coast, the sky over the water was lighter than over land. This is the result of water reflecting light from distant stars on a moonless night. However, once people started building homes and condominiums on the beach, the lights from these structures reversed this pattern. Some turtle hatchlings now move toward the lights of man-made buildings rather than what now appears to be a darker sky over the water. To help minimize the problem, residents and visitors are required to restrict the amount of lights left on overnight on the beachfront residences or direct them away from the beach during the critical emergence period. May through October is "LIGHTS OUT" along the beach. Serious fines are levied against violators.

If you should happen to be on the beach when a female comes ashore, stay clear and do not interrupt her. Disruption of nesting attempt and/or bright lights may force her back into the water before the nest is built and the eggs are laid. Instead, consider yourself fortunate to quietly observe the action. Thanks for reading WeLoveMarcoIsland.com