Sea Turtle Nesting Season 

BY MAGGIE OLIVE KLEIN
KONKLIFE STAFF WRITER AND EDITOR 

Sea Turtle Nesting Season is from March 1st to October 31st (Atlantic) or May 1st to October 31st (Gulf). During this time, Key West residents as well as tourists can oversee the beauty of baby sea turtle hatchlings in their natural habitat. 

Sea turtles are air-breathing reptiles, that spend most of their lives swimming in salt water. Their only land-time is during nesting season, in which females lay their eggs on the beach. When baby sea turtles hatch 50-60 days after they’ve been laid, they are about three inches long. Their natural instinct is to crawl from their nest to the sea without any guidance to start their lives in the ocean, and this is why it is so important to respect and aid in their journey from land to sea. 

So, how can you help the hatchlings? Well, according to information on the City of Key West Florida website, following the rules set by the Florida Fish and Wildlife Conservation Commission is of utmost importance. It is necessary for everyone to help in any way possible to help these creatures make it to the sea, so they can begin to evolve and contribute to the ecosystem. Hatchlings rely on the natural light horizon over the ocean, and the whites of wave crests to lead them to the water. It is extremely important for everyone to limit the use of artificial light near the site in order for the natural process to seamlessly occur. 

The Key West City Commission passed an ordinance to protect the island’s turtles and city staff has come up with suggestions over the years to comply with the law. As said on cityofkeywest-fl.gov, 

  • Make sure lighting and reflective surfaces are not directly visible from the beach. 
  • Replace any bulbs that cannot be removed with yellow so-called bug lights. 
  • Cover windows so that interior lighting is not visible from the beach 
  • Keep pets away from the beach. Dogs, cats, and even ferrets can disrupt turtle nests 
  • If you walk, jog or bike along the beach, bring along a flashlight for your own safety. 

Horseback riding, having campfires, or participating in vehicular traffic on nesting areas during nesting season is prohibited. Storage or placement of any material in the nesting area, including construction material, trash, debris, etc., that has potential to impede movement of hatchlings or adults between ocean and nesting areas is also prohibited. In addition, all development shall be set back a minimum of fifty feet from any area that serves as an active or potential nesting area for marine turtles. 

Sea turtles are a vital part of the coastal beauty that is Key West. As a local or a tourist, be sure to respect their natural cycle of life, and do what you can as a good human to help them! For more information, head to the City of Key West’s official government website. 

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