In Indian River County, sea turtle nesting season starts on March 1st and runs through October 31st annually. During this special time of year, adult sea turtles - including loggerhead, green, and leatherback sea turtles - return to our sandy shores along the Atlantic Ocean to lay their eggs. Not only do they return to shore, but these females return to the very beaches they hatched from at least 25 to 30 years prior.
Over 90% of the nation’s sea turtle nests are laid in Florida! Each nest contains 100 to 150 eggs, which take approximately 65 days to incubate. Sadly, only 1 out of every 1,000 hatchlings will reach adulthood. The magnificent sea turtles, sandy nests, and cute hatchlings are all protected. So, Indian River County's Coastal Engineering division closely monitors the beaches, including in Orchid, throughout this 8-month period.
Part of this effort is to make sure that precautions are being taken by beachside property owners and beachgoers regarding lighting. Artificial lights (including from flashlights, flash photography, cell phones, and bonfires) are detrimental to the well-being of sea turtles and their hatchlings. Lights discourage adult turtles from laying nests and can cause hatchlings to crawl in the wrong direction, causing them to perish.
All lights illuminating buildings or associated grounds must be shielded in such a manner that they are not visible from the beach. Lights illuminating dune crosswalks must also be covered. If you would like to learn more, contact Indian River County’s Sea Turtle Environmental Specialist Quintin Bergman at (772) 226-1648 or email Quintin.
Another part is counting and geotagging nests. Not all nests are physically marked with stakes and flagging. In fact, fewer than 10% of the nests laid in Indian River County will be visibly marked. These nests are to be monitored for external influences such as wash-overs from tides and ghost crab activity. Additionally, some nests are marked because of their sensitive location. Remember that 90% of nests are unmarked, so be extra cautious when selecting where to install your umbrella this time of year.
During the 2022 season in Indian River County, loggerheads laid a record-breaking 7,431 nests, and leatherbacks exceeded expectations with 101 nests (normally about 50 of these nests are laid). Also, 1,823 green turtle nests were geotagged along 22.4 miles of beach. Since the passing of the Endangered Species Act in 1973, sea turtle populations have started to recover but still have a long road ahead before population numbers are stabilized.
To help make 2023 another record-breaking year, please be mindful that sea turtles are very particular when choosing a suitable nesting site and can be easily scared. Keep a safe distance of at least 10 feet and remain behind the animal where it can't see you. Be careful not to use flash photography, which can also frighten her away. Touching these protected species (including their eggs) without a permit is against the law. Tracks left by turtles (often similar to tire tracks) should be left undisturbed, because these are used within the Sea Turtle Conservation Program to identify the species of turtle and to find their nests. Beaches should be kept clear of debris, and holes in the sand should be filled, so that sea turtles' arduous journey onto the beach and the hatchlings' passage to the ocean aren't made even more difficult. It also helps keep the biologists, conducting their work in the low light of dawn, from tripping or falling!
In Orchid, during sea turtle nesting season, licensed dogs may still be off-leash during designated daily hours, but owners are asked to be extra mindful that sea turtles and their nests are not disturbed by their 4-pawed pals. This is also true of any leashed dogs visiting the beach, of course. Contact (772) 581-2770 for assistance and information about local regulations for dogs on the beach.