Turtle Time

Looking in any direction on the beaches in Southern Florida at this time of year you will see lots of yellow tapes and stakes and signs telling you "Do Not Cross".  No, a rash of crime scenes have not popped up.  All of the yellow markers are to warn you that there is a nest of turtle eggs within and you need to be careful.  It's turtle nesting season, after all.

We didn't have to walk far from my parent's back door before we encountered our first nest.  And became fascinated.  See, the turtles are endangered and if we are not careful they face extinction in the wild within the next generation or two.  So conservation societies and a plethora of volunteers do everything in their power to make sure that this doesn't happen.  And even with their help, the odds are against them.  Only about 1 of every 1000 eggs laid will make it to maturity.  Staggering statistic.  Let's do the math...As of my writing, there were 97 nests on Fort Myers Beach.  Each nest contains an average of 100 eggs.  That makes for a total of 9700 eggs.  Out of almost 10,000 eggs laid only, 10 turtles will make it to adulthood.  Out of those, perhaps 6 are female (depending on how warm it is in the nest as the sex of the turtle is decided by heat - hotter = female, cooler = male).  So, maybe there will be 6 female turtles coming back to lay the next generation of eggs.  Out of 10, 000 eggs we have to rely on 6 to keep the species alive.

Amazing that they survive at all, isn't it?

So, the yellow boxes are truly necessary.  As are all of the precautions taken by the volunteers and those that live at the beach.  All sand holes must be filled in before nightfall (baby turtles can fall in and not get out), turning off all outside lights or switching to colored light bulbs so as not to distract the turtles (the hatchlings usually hatch at night and are very nearsighted.  They head towards the brightest light because it should be the horizon and water but if they see a brighter light, they will head towards it) and never interfere with a nesting turtle.  

Rules of conduct and the repercussions if you don't comply.

I really wanted to see the turtles hatching and waddling their way down to the ocean, but I also wasn't about to sit outside on the beach from sunset to sunrise in order to do so.  Sadly we missed a few nests that did hatch...

One morning, as I was eating breakfast, Grampa called us outside.  A turtle had laid her nest just outside in their backyard.  The volunteers were moving the nest as it was too close to the water.  I was still in my pj's so I snapped a picture of them digging up the nest from the balcony and then ran to get dressed and follow them down the beach where they would replant the eggs.  A bit stalkerish, I know but really, when would I get to see this again?

Now that I was dressed I headed out back and looked for the ladies in the truck.  I found them about 50 meters down the beach.  I quickly joined them where I asked if I could watch and take a few pictures.  They were eager to share their knowledge and their skill with me and I couldn't have been happier...well, unless of course I was watching the turtles hatch.

First they find a suitable location (this time they used an already cordoned off area where some turtles had just hatched a few days earlier).  Then they dig a hold about 15 inches deep (from fingertips to elbow and maybe 6 inches in diameter.  They make sure there are no roots or spaces for the turtles to get trapped in on their way out.  The bottom of the nest is lined with soil taken from the bottom of the old nest.  They think it might contains some amniotic fluid and nutrients the eggs might need, but aren't 100% sure.  Finally, it is time for the eggs.

The eggs are replanted using a claw technique because each egg must be put back in the exact position in which it landed in the original nest.  It doesn't have to be in the same place in the nest but it does have to land in the same direction.  Because the eggs are soft, you can see dimples in them from where they land, one on top of the other.   Finally, the nest is closed in and the eggs are left in peace for 55-65 days until they hatch.

Such a great experience to get to see first hand.  I only wish we had gotten to see them hatching too.  But since we didn't I added the below video from the webcam of one of the preservation society's in the Florida Keys.  Cute, huh?