Anna Maria Island Sea Turtles

When you're walking on the beach and you see a spot marked off with stakes and twine, those are sea turtle nests! Yes, the same ones that date back to the dinosaur days. Nesting season here on Anna Maria Island is from May to October. As of September 7th 2014 there were 257 nests, 284 false crawls, 178 hatched nests. 15,913 turtles sent to the Gulf of Mexico, according to AMITW.
Female turtles lay around nine clutches (nests) in season. Which varies from 75 to 200 eggs. Incubation last about 45 to 75 days. Sea turtles mainly hatch at night. These little guys can grow to be up to 5 feet long and weight between 240- 420 pounds! They can live to be over 80 years old.
They are on the United States Endangered Species List. To Keep The sea turtles safe please don’t leave anything on the beach at night. Remember to take all your beach rental equipment back your vacation rental or home at night. They pose as obstacles and make it hard for the hatchlings to get to the water. When you go for that romantic walk or to watch the sunrise or sun set dont use artificial lighting until you are completely off the beach. Artificial lighting can disorient the sea turtles and lose their way. Also when your children are done with their beach toys, if they dug holes, fill the holds back in. Pick up all your trash at the end of your beach day. Last but not least if you see a turtle nesting, proceed with caution and admire from a distance.

If you must take pictures do it from a great distance and use zoom and no flash.

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