DATE: March 16, 2015
MEDIA CONTACT: Courtney Kiel
Environmental Planning and Community Resilience Division
PHONE: 954.519.1255
EMAIL: ckiel@broward.org
BROWARD COUNTY, FL - Broward's Sea Turtle Conservation Program is celebrating its first endangered leatherback nest of the 2015 season. The mother deposited her eggs on Pompano Beach the night of Tuesday, March 10th and the turtle tracks and nest were confirmed by a sea turtle specialist during Wednesday morning's survey.
Leatherback turtles generally "kick off" turtle nesting season as they commonly nest earlier than loggerheads and greens. Their nesting months are slightly less predictable, but generally range from March-July in South Florida. Last year, Broward had a total of 49 leatherback crawls that resulted in 39 nests and 10 false crawls, or emergences from the ocean, which did not result in a nest. Leatherback nesting has experienced a significant increase over the life of the Broward County Sea Turtle Conservation Program, and the Program is hopeful that this positive trend will continue as participation from municipalities, conservationist, residents, and beach goers has helped make the highly utilized beaches of Broward suitable nesting habitats for the iconic sea turtles.
Program officials remind residents and beach goers that there are many actions they can take to help create and conserve suitable sea turtle nesting habitats:
- Limit the use of all plastics and utilize re-usable bags. Leatherbacks often mistake plastic bags for jellyfish which is the main part of their diet.
- Dispose of plastic straws and cup lids properly.
- Turn off and shield outdoor lights and close blinds to shade interior lights. This will minimize light reaching the beach which can deter nesting turtles and disorient hatchlings.
Sea turtles need dark, clean beaches!
For more information on how to help create a more sustainable environment for sea turtles, contact the Broward County Sea Turtle Conservation Program at 954-519-1255. If you see any turtles in distress, please contact the sea turtle emergency line immediately at 954-328-0580.
About Environmental Planning and Community Resilience
Broward County's Environmental Planning and Community Resilience Division protects, restores and enhances the quality, abundance and diversity of the County's natural resources through coordinated management efforts in five areas: water resource policy and planning, urban and natural lands management, beach and marine resources, energy and sustainability, and environmental monitoring. For more information call 954-519-1270, visit our website or follow us on Twitter.