- May 8, 2024
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Turtle nesting season has kicked off with a strong start. Twelve nests have already been laid on the north end of Longboat Key.
Ahead of nesting season, which started May 1, the town sent reminders of best practices and rules for protecting nests and hatchlings, which include keeping beaches dark and free of trash and chairs.
Thousands of sea turtles nest each year on Southwest Florida beaches. The number of nests in the area is updated each week on Mote Marine Laboratory and Aquarium’s website.
The town released another installment of its video series “Tip Talk” hosted by Town Manager Howard Tipton, formerly known as “Talk of the Town.” This installment covered turtle season, conservation reminders and more.
Longboat Key typically sees the nesting of loggerhead turtles and green sea turtles.
Mote Sea Turtle Conservation Manager Melissa Macksey said the organization estimates about 1,000 nests will be laid on Southwest Florida beaches this season.
In the video, Tipton asked what has led to the rise in the number of turtle nests on Florida beaches over recent decades.
“A bunch of protection measures went into place (in the 1970s) to protect turtles in the water as well as the nests on the land,” Macksey said. “Since then, they have a very long lifecycle, so we have a very big delay in the protection measures going into place and now we’re starting to see nesting numbers rise.”
The town sent out another batch of reminders last week regarding the importance of keeping pets off the beach.
During marine turtle and shorebird nesting seasons, the town typically experiences an increase in complaints about dogs on the beach. The town’s code prohibits dogs and cats on Longboat Key beach access and beaches. Only trained service animals are allowed on the beach and require leashes at all times. Therapy or emotional support animals are not allowed on the beach.
Town partners, such as Longboat Key Turtle Watch, have verified that when turtles see a dog, cat or other predator, they expend extra energy. That stress hampers their nesting and migration. The presence of pets or other predators causes nesting turtles to flee and disrupts successful nesting.
To report animal complaints please contact one of the following:
The only Longboat Key park that allows dogs to to be off-leash is the dog park at Bayfront Park. Outside the fenced dog park, dogs brought to Bayfront Park or Joan Durante Park must be on a leash no longer than eight feet. No other parks in the town allow dogs.
