ENVIRONMENT
BY DONNA CRARY
A boil of green sea turtle hatchlings crawls out of its nest and the tiny sea turtles find their way down the slope of the beach to the ocean.
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SAND AND SEA
SLOW AND STEADY
OUR SEA TURTLES
Sea turtles return to Treasure Coast beaches
to continue cycle of life
Beginning in the spring and lasting through autumn,
Mother Nature puts on an awe-inspiring spectacle
along our coastline. Under dark, starry skies mother
sea turtles emerge from the ocean so they can carry
on their species. During this ancient ritual, the marine reptile
slowly lumbers her way onto the beach to find a safe location
to lay her eggs.
It is a difficult and delicate venture, where nesting conditions
must be just right. If the setting is favorable, she meticulously
builds her nest, lays her eggs, buries and disguises
them with utmost care. Then she disappears back into the
deep, not knowing if her young will survive.
The Treasure Coast is one of the leading hot spots for sea
turtle nesting in the United States. Last year, around 26,382
nests were recorded. Seven species of sea turtles swim in the
oceans today and three of those beach along our shores to lay
their eggs.
Leatherbacks typically nest from early March until July.
They are massive creatures usually weighing 800-1,000
pounds and are the only soft-shelled species of sea turtles. >>