ANNA MARIA ISLAND – Anna Maria Island Turtle Watch and Shorebird Monitoring volunteers are preparing to start the 2025 sea turtle nesting season beginning with turtle patrols on April 15.
According to Turtle Watch Executive Director Kristen Mazzarella, the official start of nesting season is May 1, but in recent years, the first nest on the Island has been found in April.
“In 2024, there were 685 nests and 835 false crawls, all from loggerhead sea turtles,” according to a press release from Turtle Watch. “This was a record number of nests laid in one season. Turtle Watch documented 284 nests hatched and 20,633 hatchlings were produced.”
Hurricanes Debby, Helene and Milton wiped out a lot of sea turtles’ nests in 2024 and destroyed vegetation and the dune system on Anna Maria Island.
“Dunes and vegetation block artificial light from being seen from the beach and create a barrier for sea turtles,” the release states. “This year, lights that had not been an issue in years past have potential to disorient sea turtles and without dunes, in many areas, sea turtles will have direct access to the road.”
Turtle Watch asks people to use red or amber turtle-friendly bulbs and shields, block lights or shut them off in order to prevent disorientation.
Turtle Watch has developed educational initiatives to help the Anna Maria Island community educate visitors this summer:
- The Inaugural Sea Turtle Nesting Season Kickoff Party deemed “Suzi Fox Day” in honor of the longtime Turtle Watch director will be held on Thursday, May 1 from 3-6 p.m. at Coquina Beach Lifeguard Tower #9. There will be free outreach materials and turtle-friendly light bulbs, an educational booth, games and activities for kids and music by Mike Sales.
- Anna Maria Island businesses and properties can order free outreach materials to hand out to guests or post in rooms. These materials, like rack cards, door hangers, posters, and window clings, educate visitors about how to protect sea turtles and shorebirds on AMI. Please visit https://islandturtlewatch.com/get-involved/educate/ to request the outreach materials of your choice. Materials can also be picked up at Suzi Fox Day.
- Sea Turtle Tracks and Shorebird Facts talks are back starting on Monday, May 5. These educational presentations are put on by Turtle Watch volunteers on Mondays at 10 a.m. from May through August at Holmes Beach City Hall, 5801 Marina Drive in Holmes Beach.
- Sea turtles are federally protected by the Endangered Species Act and by state and local laws. If you see a sea turtle in distress on Anna Maria Island, please call Turtle Watch at 941-301-8434 or the FWC Wildlife Alert Hotline at 888-404-3922.
For more information, visit the Anna Maria Island Turtle Watch and Shorebird Monitoring website.
