The number of sea turtle nests on Sarasota County beaches has hit a 38-year high.
According to Mote Marine Laboratory, nesting season is not yet over and already 5,063 nests have been counted from Venice to Longboat Key. That's almost 500 more nests than the previous record year in 2016.
The vast majority are loggerhead nests. But there are 170 green sea turtle nests, too.
Both are considered threatened under the federal Endangered Species Act.
Sea turtle nesting season runs from May until the end of October.
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