Guide To St. George Island Sea Turtles

Turtle Nesting Season runs from May 1st to October 31st

Located near the mouth of the Apalachicola River off the Florida Panhandle, St. George Island is a favorite destination of those in search of warm waters and pristine shorelines – and we don’t just mean our human visitors! Nestled between the Gulf of Mexico and the Apalachicola Bay, SGI is also the ideal seasonal host for nesting sea turtles, including the largest nesting population of loggerhead turtles in northwest Florida. May 1 marks the official start of sea turtle nesting season across the beaches of the Forgotten Coast and Franklin County, Florida each year. 

The Nesting Process

Photo Credit: eurekalert.org

The loggerhead turtle is the most common turtle to claim nesting grounds on the island. Loggerhead sea turtles are classified as vulnerable by the International Union for the Conservation of Nature. On occasion, green sea turtles and leatherbacks have also made their nests here. 

Nesting sites can be found anywhere along the sandy beaches of the barrier islands, including along the shores of the Apalachicola Bay and St. George Sound. Ideally, nesting turtles will make their way to the dune line to make their nests in the upper area of the beach. One female may nest several times in one season, with anywhere from 50-150 hatchlings emerging from each clutch after a 45-60 day incubation period. Sea turtle hatchlings most often emerge at night, using the moon on the horizon to find their way to the sea. The nesting season runs through October 30th.

Protecting Our Turtles

Current research suggests that only one hatchling in 5,000 reaches adulthood. In order to better these odds, turtles rely on the cooperation of guests as well as local organizations and volunteers. Franklin County beaches have been monitored for sea turtle activity since 1979, thanks to a cooperative monitoring program designated by the Florida Fish and Wildlife Research Institute (FWRI). St. George Island State Park oversees 9 miles on the eastern end of St. George Island, while Apalachicola National Estuarine Research Reserve (ANERR) monitors Little St. George Island, the mainland between Eastpoint and Carrabelle. and lands just outside of the state park. 

The SGI Turtlers

The St. George Island Volunteer Turtlers monitor 12 miles of beaches on St. George Island. Turtlers scour the beaches to locate and mark turtle nests as they appear on the shores. Their daily walks include looking for signs of nesting activity, predators and other disturbances, or hatching or disorientation of hatchlings. Once a nest hatches, turtlers inventory the nest to determine hatchling success. Although they have a very important job to do, you will find that they are often happy to stop and share some firsthand information, and maybe even point out a nest or two!

Your Role

Franklin County’s year-round “Leave No Trace Ordinance” (Ordinance 14-1) applies to all area beaches. The ordinance was designed to help preserve our unspoiled shorelines and to protect resident and migratory wildlife, including marine turtles. The ordinance prohibits people from leaving items like tents, coolers, toys, and beach chairs on public beaches on St. George Island overnight, and requires that beach-goers fill in any holes they dig in the sand before leaving the beach.

Learn More

If you’re lucky enough to visit during sea turtle nesting season, it’s an incredible display of nature and the circle of life. We encourage our guests to take some time to learn about our favorite seasonal guests, and how you can help to ensure their continued survival while protecting the beautiful beaches we all love so much. Follow the rules and be a good, responsible steward of the environment, and enjoy the “show”… from a safe, respectful distance.

To learn more about the sea turtles, the Apalachicola area, and other marine life, consider a visit to The Apalachicola National Estuarine Research Reserve Nature Center (ANERR) during your stay! ANERR is open to the public and admission is free! Explore 18,000 square feet of learning space nestled along Apalachicola Bay, including research laboratories, large walk-around tanks representing the diverse ecosystems and habitats found in Apalachicola. Make sure to ask about their next “Turtle Talk” event, where members of the St. George Island Turtle Patrol team answer questions and give updates on sea turtle nests throughout the island. 

Fickling & Company of Florida, LLC provides more information about our sea turtle guests in each vacation home but if you have any questions, please feel free to give us a call. Visitors interested in learning about sea turtle nesting can visit the St. George Island Visitor’s Center (at the St. George Island Lighthouse Park) to pick up turtle information. 

TO AVOID DISRUPTING THE NESTING SEA TURTLES

We suggest the following:

  • Avoid adding to disorienting light pollution. Please turn off all exterior lights and close window coverings in your vacation rental after dark. Avoid shining flashlights on a sea turtle or snapping flash photos.
  • Avoid other nighttime activities, such as bonfires, fireworks, etc. that might prevent sea turtles from coming ashore.
  • If you are lucky enough to see a turtle; sit quietly in the dark, at a distance, to watch her nest. 
  • If you see a turtle nest (marked OR unmarked), please do not disrupt it.
  • If you have the opportunity to see a hatch take place, please do not help the babies to the water. Baby sea turtles must get oriented to their future-nesting beach. Avoid disturbing turtles crawling to or from the ocean.
  • It is against the law to touch or disturb nesting sea turtles, hatchlings, or their nests. Sea turtles are protected by both the United States Endangered Species Act and the Florida Marine Protection Act.  
  • If you see an injured turtle, please contact the Florida Fish and Wildlife Conservation Commission at 888-404-3922 or *FWC from your mobile device. Stranding data is recorded and live strandings are transported to rehabilitation facilities like the Gulf World Marine Institute in Panama City.