05/03/2026
Were you aware that May 1 to November 1 is Sea Turtle Nesting Season along the Gulf Coast?
These wonderful creatures have existed for over 100M years. In fact, the leatherbacks have remained largely unchanged since the age of the dinosaurs.
During nesting season, females often return to the exact same beach where they were born, sometimes traveling thousands of miles to get there. When they arrive, they lay up to 100 eggs per nest and as many as seven nests in a season. While the eggs are incubating, the temperature of the sand determines the gender of the hatchlings. Cooler sand temperatures produce male hatchlings, while warmer sand temperatures produce female hatchlings.
How can we help to protect these highly threatened creatures? During nesting season, it is crucial to keep beaches dark overnight or use turtle safe lighting. Remove any beach furniture and fill in holes, to avoid disrupting nesting females and hatchlings. As well, never approach a sea turtle as it comes ashore – maintain a good distance of at least 30 feet and do not use flash photography.
