It’s Turtle Time! Sea Turtle Nesting Season Kicks Off With May

It is officially May and the beginning of sea turtle nesting season along the Florida coast. After a long journey from distances as far as the western shore of Africa, female turtles have landed on the sunny shores of southwestern Florida, ready to lay their nests.

The sea turtle population experienced a brutal, 10-year population decline as the result of overfishing, growing levels of water Pollution, and poaching, but the past two years has shown promise of recovery.

According to Turtle Time, a Florida nonprofit, each species of sea turtle plays an essential role in the marine ecosystem: Leatherback’s control jellyfish populations, Loggerheads stir up sediment and break up conch for other species to feed on, Greens trim seagrass, and Hawksbills groom coral reefs.

These turtles are vital to maintaining the oceans’ health, which is why ensuring their nests remain undisturbed for the three-month gestation period is SO important. Environmental officials recommend turning off every light in your house (if you live near nesting grounds!) to let hatchlings not confuse your porch light for the moon and crawl away from their aquatic destination as well as  making sure all beach furniture is retrieved from the sand. Above all, if you live near an area where turtles nest, it is imperative that you respect their grounds — that means no Snapchats of turtle nests or Instagram with Loggerheads!

It will be a while until the eggs hatch, but for those of you living outside Florida, check out this video for a sneak peak of what’s in store when they hatch.

Image Source: Hila Shaked/Wikipedia Commons