First turtle nests of the season hatch

The first turtle nests of the season are beginning to hatch, according to Longboat Key Turtle Watch volunteers and Mote Marine Laboratory.

Cyndi Seamon, a volunteer with Turtle Watch, which patrols the Manatee County portion of Longboat Key, estimates that three or four nests have hatched so far in the group’s patrol area.

Mote Director of Communications Nadine Slimak said that “so far about a handful of turtle nests have hatched on Longboat Key,” however Mote doesn’t release tallies of hatchlings until after Oct. 31, when nesting season ends.

Turtle Watch and Mote volunteer Melissa Herron recently captured a photo showing a sign of nesting season: hatchling tracks heading toward the water. The best part, according to Herron, is the fact that the hatchling’s trail goes right through the center of the tracks left by an adult female as she traveled up the beach to nest.

Contact Robin Hartill at [email protected].