Volusia County, FL - Turtle nesting season is officially over but continues unofficially due to washbacks and the fact that there are still a few nests with eggs. Jennifer Winters, Sea Turtle Habitat Conservation Program Manager for Volusia County, said 575 total nests were counted on the 36 miles of county beaches. The most common nests are loggerheads, which comprised 565 nests. The rest of the nests were from endangered species: five green turtle nests and three leatherbacks.
Winters said the hatch count is almost 35,000 but the odds of the hatchlings making it to adulthood are not great. She said scientific research shows that anywhere from one in one thousand up to one in ten thousand make it.
At this time of year, washback is a real problem for hatchlings and juvenile turtles. Winters said if you find any turtles on the beach, please don't put them back in the water. She said the turtles that have washed back are worn out and could be suffering from malnutrition. Winters asks that if you find one, contact a beach safety officer or contact the Ponce Inlet Marine Science Center at 386-304-5545.
