ANNA MARIA ISLAND – Anna Maria Island’s nesting sea turtles are approaching a record with 541 nests laid this year, two short of the 2019 record of 543.
Another record was set last week when the first turtle nest documented at Emerson Point Preserve hatched, with 81 of 98 eggs hatching, giving the nest an 83% hatch success rate.
Anna Maria Island Turtle Watch and Shorebird Monitoring Executive Director Kristen Mazzarella reports that 22,311 hatchlings have successfully hatched this year.
“This is more hatchlings than we produced in 2024 (20,633), and almost as many that were produced in 2023 (22,713) – and the season is not over yet,” Mazzarella wrote in an Aug. 21 email.
“With all these hatchlings being produced, we want to make sure they successfully reach the water. Hatchlings use light as a cue. They go away from dark backgrounds and towards the bright night sky over the water. We are urging everyone to do their best to keep light from reaching the beach and disorienting hatchlings.
- No cell phone or flashlights (even red lights) on the beach at night;
- Close blinds so interior lights cannot be seen from the beach;
- Use turtle-friendly lighting (red or amber LEDs) with shields or turn off lights that can be seen from the beach; and
- Report any non-turtle friendly lights that can be seen from the beach to your local code enforcement.
If you find a hatchling in danger, in the road, in a pool or off the beach, here’s what to do:
- Pick up the hatchling to get it out of danger;
- Place it in a bucket/container (you can put a little sand in the bucket but no water);
- Call AMITW’s Hotline 941-301-8434 for more instructions;
- Do not release hatchlings on your own. If they are sick or injured, they may not be able to swim.
