SCCF’s sea turtle team reports a total loss of 17 nests from Tropical Storm Sally.

Ten nests on Sanibel and seven on Captiva washed away. SCCF Biologist Jack Brzoza, pictured here, used a GPS device to locate nests where the stakes were no longer there to determine if the eggs were still incubating under the sand.

“With our record-breaking number of nests this year, these 17 nests lost only make up a small percentage of the total nests and will not significantly impact our overall productivity,” said Brzoza. “We are thrilled that 32,862 hatchlings have already reached the sea from 569 hatched nests this season.”

The nest loss from TS Sally is less than the loss of 29 nests in early June from TS Cristobal. Sea turtles have a nesting strategy that accommodates for such natural events.

 Photos by Tom James/Pelican Media