Save the Sea Turtles - Bocilla Island Conservancy

Protecting Our Sea Turtles

Enjoy highlights from Carol McCoy, Board Member and Principal Permit Holder with the Coastal Wildlife Club—a nonprofit organization dedicated to protecting beach-dependent wildlife in Southwest Florida through nesting-beach monitoring and public awareness programs across Don Pedro, Knight, and Manasota Key.

Monitoring Our Sea Turtles

May – October is Turtle Season

From mid-April to October, dedicated volunteers participate in citizen science by walking the beach every morning at dawn to document sea turtle activity from the previous night. They carefully place stakes around the nests, record various details, including the types of species encountered, nesting behaviors, and occurrences of false crawls. This thorough documentation enables researchers to gain valuable insights into nesting patterns and turtle population dynamics.

What to do if I see a distressed turtle

Report struggling or dead sea turtles and manatees to;

FWC Wildlife Alert: 888.404.3922

Put this number in your phone for emergencies.
Be prepared: You will be asked to provide your position and possibly submit photos.

How to avoid boat collisions with turtles

1. Wear polarized sunglasses to see better into the water.

2. Obey speed limits and no-wake zones.

3. Appoint a wildlife spotter on your boat to keep watch for sea turtles and manatees.

How can I become a turtle patrol volunteer

Please click here to contact Coastal Wildlife Club, Inc. for more information.

Lights Out For Sea Turtles

The Impact on Artificial Light on Nesting Sea Turtles

Artificial lighting disrupts sea turtle nesting and hatchling survival by disorienting them, leading to decreased success rates. To tackle this issue, we can implement turtle-friendly lighting solutions, such as low-intensity yellow bulbs, and encourage the community to turn off lights during nesting season. Educating residents about the impacts of light pollution is crucial, along with collaborating with local authorities to establish protective lighting ordinances. These actions will help enhance nesting success and support the survival of sea turtle populations.

How To Help

If you live close to the beach, please remember to keep your shades down at night and shield outdoor lights that face the shore. Additionally, installing the appropriate window treatments can help protect the hatchlings as they make their way back to the Gulf. When using headlamps on the beach, it’s essential to select those with red or dimly colored lights, as these colors are less likely to disturb nesting sea turtles.

Dark Sky Initiative

Dark Sky Initiatives To Protect Sea Turtles: Click Here To Learn More

Regulations for Acceptable light sources

2025, Regulations for Charlotte County, Acceptable Fixtures, Bulbs, and Other Light Sources: Download PDF Here

25 Years before a Sea Turtle can reproduce

Reproduction Starts At 25 Years Old

Why sea turtles survival depends on us

Sea turtles are among the most remarkable creatures in our oceans, but their life cycle makes them especially vulnerable. Unlike many animals, sea turtles don’t reach reproductive maturity until around 25 years of age. That means decades of survival—through predators, habitat loss, and human threats—before a single turtle can lay eggs of its own.

Because of this long wait, every stage of a sea turtle’s life is critical. Protecting nesting beaches, reducing plastic waste, and keeping coastal waters clean all ensure that more turtles survive to adulthood. When a single female finally returns to the beach to nest, she carries with her the potential to safeguard the next generation and keep these ancient mariners thriving in our seas.

Microplastics Killing Sea Turtles

Impacts on Sea Turtles and the Marine Environment

Microplastics pose a significant threat to sea turtles and marine life, as these tiny plastic particles are often ingested accidentally. Sea turtles may mistake microplastics for food, leading to blockages, malnutrition, and toxic exposure. Reducing pollution through community clean-up efforts and advocating for reduced plastic use are crucial steps to combat this issue. By promoting the use of reusable products and supporting bans on single-use plastics, we can help protect the marine environment and ensure a healthier ecosystem for sea turtles.

Types of Florida Sea Turtles

Loggerhead, Green, Kemp’s Ridley, Leatherback, Hawksbill

I bet you didn’t know that Southwest Florida beaches host several kinds of sea turtles! Here is the breakdown:
Loggerheads are the stars of the show here — they make up the majority of nests on our beaches.
Green turtles come in second place. They’re fewer than loggerheads but still reliable visitors.
Kemp’s Ridley’s are much rarer, but every so often, researchers and volunteers spot them.
Leatherbacks (the giants of the sea turtle world) only show up occasionally, but when they do, it’s unforgettable.
Hawksbills are the true rarities — they live in tropical waters, so sightings here in Southwest Florida are very unusual.

An Evening to Cherish and Remember

We extend our heartfelt thanks to the dedicated board and committee members who made this evening’s event possible. We are especially grateful to our visiting lecturer, Carol McCoy, for her insightful presentation on Saving the Sea Turtles.

The generosity of our volunteers did not go unnoticed — they contributed their time, prepared delicious food, and helped spread the word about this remarkable event. Finally, we deeply appreciate our gracious hosts for opening their space to facilitate such a special gathering.

Mission of Living Lecture Series

The Island Living Lecture Series will foster a social gathering with community education by providing a space for experts to talk about interesting topics that will highlight our islands unique environmental elements, land conservation and community needs.
Island Living Lecture Series is under the heading of “Education & Community Awareness
Committee” of Bocilla Islands Conservancy.

Ways to Support Us

Join our conservation programs to protect and restore our island’s ecosystems. Volunteer your time and talents, make a donation to support essential resources, or participate in our adoption program by nurturing sea oats or mangrove propagules, or adopting a mini reef to aid in marine life restoration.

Volunteer

Donate

Adopt

Hand’s on Programs

Our programs are designed for volunteers eager to learn about the ecosystem! Participate in activities such as building Vertical Oyster Gardens, propagating mangroves, restoring shorelines, and planting sea oats. Unlike traditional lectures, these hands-on experiences allow you to engage directly with the environment and make a tangible impact.

Clean Islands

Volunteer Island Cleanup Team

The Clean Islands volunteer team is dedicated to preserving the beauty of our island. Our passionate group of volunteers comes together to clean vital areas, including easements and beach access points, ensuring our environment remains vibrant and accessible. Thanks to our generous community members and visitors, we have successfully removed approximately 10 tons of construction debris and 6 tons of vegetation, all fueled by the energy and big hearts of our volunteers. Join us in making a real difference—get involved and help us keep BOCILLA Island beautiful.

Our Past Events

Oysters For Clean Water

Coming this Fall 2025

Join us in this vital mission to protect and revitalize our aquatic ecosystems! VOGs consist of oyster shells strung together with lengths of rope, designed to hang below docks. Building on the success of our pilot projects at the Marine Life Park and Artificial Reef, we are excited to introduce our upcoming program this fall. This effort not only aims to enrich our park’s biodiversity but also encourages community members to establish similar gardens at their docks.

Learn More

Mini Reef Habitat Program

20 Mini Reefs were installed by Ocean Habitat on May 17, 2023 at the Artificial Reef & Marine Life Park.

If you have a dock, you can purchase your very own Mini Reef, and we’ll help you install it. And if you don’t have a dock, you can still join the fun by adopting a Mini Reef that will be installed at a host location or one of our parks. Best of all, you can adopt a portion of a Mini Reef — every contribution helps, and together we’ll build reefs that clean the water and bring marine life back to our islands. Each Mini Reef filters up to 30,000 gallons of seawater daily while creating a habitat for fish and other marine life.

Learn More

We are a Nationally Certified Wildlife Habitat!

We are proud to be a Nationally Certified Wildlife Habitat Community, recognizing that our community as a whole met the requirements by certifying 40 individual properties and providing ongoing education that supports and celebrates wildlife conservation.

Receiving a Certified Wildlife Habitat® designation from the National Wildlife Federation means that your property provides the essential elements wildlife need to thrive—food, water, cover, places to raise young, and sustainable practices that support the local ecosystem. This certification recognizes your commitment to creating and maintaining a healthy environment where native plants and animals can flourish.

Subscribe to Our Newsletter!

Be the first to learn about our Island Living lecture series and exciting fundraisers, where we unite to support preservation and environmental education! Stay informed about our upcoming clean-up events and hands-on demonstrations in our parks, like creating oyster strings that benefit our beautiful shores!

Bocilla Islands Conservancy Overview
Bocilla Islands Conservancy is a public, nonprofit, non-political organization working in partnership with the residents of the Bocilla Islands chain, including Don Pedro Island, Knight Island, Little Gasparilla Island, and Thornton Key. Our mission is dedicated to the long-term preservation of open, undeveloped spaces and natural habitats across the Bocilla Islands. The Conservancy can customize conservation easements through land acquisition, ensuring sensitive habitats are preserved and protected to maintain the ecological balance of the islands.

Disclaimer:
The content provided on this website is for informational purposes only and reflects the views and opinions of Bocilla Islands Conservancy members. It is not intended as legal, financial, or professional advice. Bocilla Islands Conservancy assumes no responsibility for errors, omissions, or the accuracy of the information provided. Visitors are encouraged to consult qualified professionals regarding any concerns or decisions. By using this site, you agree that Bocilla Islands Conservancy and its contributors shall not be held liable for any actions taken based on the information presented here.