The first loggerhead nests of the season have been recorded at Pensacola Beach.
Five nests were discovered by Escambia County Sea Turtle Patrol volunteers in recent days. That’s on top of four loggerhead nests recorded on Perdido Key last week. As May and June are the busiest nesting months, more next are expected in the coming weeks.
While loggerheads account for 90% of nests laid in Escambia County, three other species of sea turtles nest on Escambia County beaches from May to October, including green, leatherbacks and the rare Kemp’s Ridley. Once laid, the eggs will incubate for around 60 days, after which hatchlings emerge at nighttime and make their way to the water.
Beach visitors are asked to avoid disturbing nesting sea turtles and their nests and to stay a respectful distance away. Anyone who encounters a nesting turtle at night should turn off all lights and retreat a safe distance away. For nesting females, white lights on the beach may deter them from nesting or cause them to abandon a nesting attempt.
Visitors are also asked to remove their belongings when they leave for the day as furniture, tents and toys left on the beach overnight create obstacles for nesting turtles and can injure or trap them on the beach.
How to protect nesting sea turtles
Help protect nesting sea turtles and other coastal wildlife this summer by remembering:
This article originally appeared on Pensacola News Journal: Five loggerhead nests discovered on Pensacola Beach, 4 in Perdido Key
Reporting by Pensacola News Journal / Pensacola News Journal
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