Tiny Flippers, Big Journey: Anna Maria Island Hatchlings Make Final Dash to Sea

Sea turtle hatchlings are still making their break for the Gulf on Anna Maria Island, even as the season winds down. The Anna Maria Island Turtle Watch (AMITW) said on Friday that it has not seen new nests or adult turtle crawls this week. Maybe there’s a latecomer left, but it looks like nesting season is just about done.

Sea Turtle Season is Winding Down Courtesy AMITW

That said, there are still 179 nests out on the beach, so volunteers know there’ll be a steady march of hatchlings digging up and running for the surf before it’s all over. The past week has been tough, though. Survival rates for hatchlings dropped, and the Turtle Watch blames last month’s heavy rains from Tropical Storm Bertha, which likely kept some eggs from developing.

Sea Turtle Statistics Courtesy AMITW

Hatchlings make their moves at night. They rely on the natural light of the sky, the stars, and the moon’s reflection on the water to find their way to the Gulf. Lights from the land confuse them, leading them in the wrong direction. That’s why the Turtle Watch keeps reminding everyone near the beach: keep it dark. Turn off any decorative lighting if you can. If lights must stay on, keep them low, point them away from the beach, and use bulbs that put out red or orange light instead of blue or white.

If you see hatchlings, struggling or not, don’t help by putting them in the water. Let the experts step in. Call the Turtle Watch 24-hour hotline at (941) 301-8434 so the team can take over. With a little care, these last batches of baby turtles will have a better chance of starting their journey in the right direction.