Sea Turtle Patrol
Don Pedro & Knight Island Sea Turtle Patrol. Operated by Coastal Wildlife Club.
The Coastal Wildlife Club’s primary responsibility as turtle patrollers is to monitor, document, and report on sea turtle activity for the state of Florida. From mid-April through October, each day from about dawn, CWC patrollers walk the Gulf beaches, primarily on Manasota Key, looking for evidence of sea turtle activity from the previous night. A secondary but also important responsibility is outreach.
Patrollers walk on assigned days and in designated zones or beach sections, most about a half-mile long. Most patrollers walk in pairs or small groups.
Early in the season, we look for wide, vehicle-like tracks in the sand left by female sea turtles that crawl onto the beaches in search of suitable nest locations. Later on, we also look for tiny tracks left by little hatchlings.
Of the seven species of sea turtles worldwide, three nest on Florida’s beaches. The predominant nester here is the loggerhead. Greens nest here in increasing numbers. Kemp’s ridleys, the smallest and rarest of the sea turtles, nest in Florida in very small numbers. Loggerheads and green sea turtles usually nest at night. In contrast, Kemp’s Ridleys nest during the day, particularly on very windy days.
What do I 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 for your position and possibly photos.
How to Avoid Collisions With Turtles
- Wear polarized sunglasses to see better into the water.
- Obey speed limits and no wake zones.
- Appoint a wildlife spotter on your boat to keep watch for sea turtles and manatees.
How do I volunteer to be on turtle patrol
If you want to be a volunteer on the Turtle Patrol team, please click here to contact Coastal Wildlife Club, Inc. for more information.
