Florida Turtles

A sea turtle hatchling makes its way to the Gulf of Mexico from a nest on Sanibel Island in July 2023

Sea turtle nesting season gangbusters despite coastal ravages of Hurricane Ian

Tom Bayles

Hurricane Ian decimated Southwest Florida beaches last September, but it does not bother sea turtles this summer: the nesting season is on track to be one of the best in recent years

University helps keep sea turtles research safe from Hurricane Ian

Tom Bayles

Sea turtle nests in the sand on Sanibel Island hatch at nearly twice the rate as clutches on Captiva Island, and a long-term study to find out why was kept from a setback when Florida Gulf Coast University stepped in when Hurricane Ian crossed Cuba and moved toward the sister barrier islands in late September.Scientists from the Sanibel-Captiva Conservation Foundation have been monitoring myriad environmental conditions in dozens of nests on both islands trying to figure out what’s going on.

Mote's sea turtle activities are conducted under Florida Fish and Wildlife Conservation Commission Marine Turtle Permits 155, 216, 027, 054, 070, 048, 126, and 028, and all turtle images were acquired under conditions not harmful to this or other turtles while conducting authorized research.

As the Earth heats up, male sea turtle hatchlings could become more rare

Cathy Carter

As intense heat becomes more common around the world, the potential threat to biodiversity increases. One species at particular risk to a warming climate is found on the beaches of Florida.

Tour de Turtles marathon tracks sea turtle migration across continents

Mike Kiniry

The Sea Turtle Conservancy's annual Tour de Turtles allows people to follow the marathon migration of four different species of sea turtles that have been tagged with satellite transmitters.

Diamond terrapin turtles can no longer be captured in public for by those without a special permit

New rules for wild terrapin turtles in your home

Tom Bayles

Florida’s diamondback terrapin turtles, which herpetologists believe are the only tortoise in the world who lives in brackish water, must be left in the blend of fresh and salt water that the slowpokes call home. The Florida Fish and Wildlife Conservation Commission in December decided diamondback terrapin turtle numbers have dipped enough that the critters need protection to keep any more of them from being scooped up in the wild. Collecting or possessing a diamondback terrapin is now illegal, but there are exceptions: for turtle researchers, for educational displays of the turtles, and for similar conservation-based programs.

Kelly Sloan is Coastal Wildlife Director at the Sanibel-Captiva Conservation Foundation. She is monitoring a new sea turtle nest on the beach.

Here's What You Need to Know About Sea Turtle Nesting Season

Tara Calligan

Sea Turtle nesting season in Southwest Florida runs from April 15 through October 31, which means it’s beginning to wind down. Find out what it takes to monitor and help protect the large marine reptiles.

Monitoring Poached Turtles Returned to the Wild

Andrea Perdomo

A recent investigation by state wildlife officials found thousands of native turtles that were being poached and sold illegally to international markets.…