Stay in the know about wildlife, water quality, and ecosystems on Sanibel and Captiva Islands and in Southwest Florida

Volunteers Find Sea Turtle Nest ‘Boil’

September 13, 2022
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Sea turtle nesting has nearly concluded on Sanibel and Captiva Islands, though more than 20 nests are still incubating on the beaches. 2022 saw 786 sea turtle nests on the islands, including 18 green sea turtle (Chelonia mydas) nests. The remaining nests were laid by loggerhead sea turtles (Caretta caretta). As of this week, 35,085 sea turtle hatchlings have emerged on the islands.

On Labor Day, two SCCF volunteers conducting routine monitoring checked on a nest just as hatchlings began to crawl out — called a hatchling “boil.” They were able to capture the rarely witnessed event on video. 

Human presence impacts hatchlings’ ability to swiftly reach the sea, and these two trained and permitted volunteers made sure the turtles had a safe and clear path to begin their journey in the Gulf of Mexico. If you happen to see hatchlings emerging from a nest, please keep your distance and call the SCCF Sea Turtle Hotline at 979-728-3663.

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