Turtle nesting season in Florida

The majority of turtle nesting in Florida occurs between May 1st and October 31st. But they can be as early as March. [see below for current nest counts on our local Jupiter beaches]

Video: Arrieta, 2019 Dubois Park, Jupiter, FL

There is a Statewide Nesting Beach Survey (SNBS) program, which was initiated in 1979 under a cooperative agreement between the Florida Fish and Wildlife Conservation Commission (FWC) and the U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service. Its purpose is to document the total distribution, seasonality and abundance of sea turtle nesting in Florida. Approximately 215 beaches are surveyed annually, representing about 825 miles.  From 2011 to 2015, an average of 106,625 sea turtle nests (all species combined) were recorded annually on these monitored beaches [FWC].

                                         image: FWC

Species of Sea Turtles Found in Florida

LOGGERHEAD (Caretta caretta)

GREEN TURTLE (Chelonia mydas)

LEATHERBACK (Dermochelys coriacea)

KEMP'S RIDLEY (Lepidochelys kempi)

HAWKSBILL (Eretmochelys imbricata)

You can read a description of each species of turtle on the Florida Fish and Wildlife Conservation Commission website here.

The Sea Turtle Conservancy has posted Tips for Sea Turtle Nesting Season. You can read those by going to this link

The Loggerhead Marinelife Center in Juno Beach, FL lists the current nest counts on our local beaches. They care for injured turtles and are open to the public. It is free and a great opportunity to get up close to learn about the turtles.

Current Sea Turtle Nesting Totals

Juno, Jupiter-Carlin & Tequesta Beaches

Total Nests: 7

Leatherbacks: 7 Nests

Loggerheads: 0 Nests

Green Turtles: 0 Nests