Sea Turtle Nesting Season

The Archie Carr National Wildlife Refuge, located in Brevard and Indian River Counties of Florida (between Melbourne Beach and Wabasso Beach), is one of the most productive Loggerhead nesting sites in the world and the most significant Green turtle nesting area in North America. Leatherback turtles also nest along this coastline. Nesting sea turtle season is between May 1 and October 31, with peak nesting months May through August. In 2022, Brevard County beach surveys tallied over 31,000 Loggerhead nests, more that 17,000 Green turtle nests, and 143 Leatherbacks (https://myfwc.com/research/wildlife/sea-turtles/nesting/statewide/).

Momma sea turtle comes ashore and finds a nesting location. It is important that the turtle is not disturbed nor distressed or the nesting process may be interrupted. She digs a large opening in the sand and then a smaller egg chamber using her flippers. Often more than 100 eggs are placed in the chamber and then covered with damp sand. Finally, she throws sand over the area to mitigate predation.

Once nesting is completed, she pulls herself back over the beach and returns to the sea.

Green Sea Turtle returning to the sea after nesting

Hatchlings emerge about 60 days after nesting.