HomeOutdoorsTurtle season soars into...

Turtle season soars into record books

ANNA MARIA ISLAND – The 2018 sea turtle season on Anna Maria Island is a record-breaking success, due to the turtles and the volunteers of Anna Maria Island Turtle Watch and Shorebird Monitoring, director Suzi Fox said at the annual banquet on Saturday.

Out of a record 534 turtle nests laid, 447 nests hatched, producing a record 35,788 hatchlings, about 10,000 more than in 2017, she said. About half the turtles that climbed up on the beach this season nested.

Not all news was good, however.

Fifty nests were disoriented by lights, which confuse both nesting and hatching turtles, keeping mothers from laying nests and attracting hatchlings away from the water.

Four nests were washed into the Gulf of Mexico by Hurricane Michael.

And for the first time in the organization’s 36-year history, a dog dug into a nest and pulled out the hatchlings, a week before they were due to hatch.

Dogs are not allowed on Anna Maria Island beaches.

Coyotes also have been spotted on the beach for the first time, she said, adding that there is no evidence of them digging into nests.

With 20 new volunteers this year, Turtle Watch will not be accepting any new people in 2019, Fox said.

She cited volunteers for their special contributions: Kathy Noonan, for the Adopt-a-Nest program and office work; Scott Riggs, Linda and Pat Caldwell for nest stakes and office work; Maggie Carter, Barbara Riskey, Denise Gardner, Cindy Richmond, Bob Haynes and Lynn Brennen for giving Turtle Talks; Dave Ault “for just about everything;” Karen Norton for bird surveys and Amy Waterbury for photos.

Suzi Fox
Although all recorded nests have hatched, it’s still lights out until Oct. 31 for those that may have been overlooked.

Fox recognized coordinators with free car washes and said thanks and farewell to Mary Lechleidner and Marilyn George, who are retiring from Turtle Watch.

Turtle season officially ends on Oct. 31, but while all marked nests have been accounted for on the Island, some nests may have been laid that were not discovered and marked. Please continue to comply with turtle lighting ordinances and keep beach-facing windows dark.

Related coverage

Nesting News

Most Popular

More from Author

Surf shop celebrates 60

HOLMES BEACH – Jim Brady’s West Coast Surf Shop is in...

Cortez founded on mullet

CORTEZ – A visit by Dr. Angela Collins to the Cortez...

Underwater Anna Maria Island gallery

Hold your breath and take a tour of the limestone reefs...

Floridian Mortgage wins championship

ANNA MARIA – Spring has sprung and winter sports at The Center are coming to a close, with team Floridian Mortgage earning the win against team Moss Builders Thursday night in the adult co-ed flag football championship game. The top two teams in the league matched up in...

Man completes Chamber passport program in five hours

ANNA MARIA ISLAND - The annual Anna Maria Island Chamber of Commerce’s Passport Program is a fun way for residents and visitors to the Island to get out and discover Island businesses with a passport offered for free by the chamber. Participants are encouraged to get their passports...

One ARK Foundation raises funds for foster families

live music, delicious food and spirited fundraising as the One ARK Foundation held its second annual “Kindness Matters Extravaganza” at The Cheesecake Cutie & Cafe on March 21. “One ARK” stands for “one act of random kindness” and is a newly-established 501(c)(3) nonprofit organization founded by The Cheesecake...

Save our homes

This column should be titled “Save our Taxes,” since that’s what we’re really talking about. However, saving on property taxes is part of the Save Our Homes benefits and portability transfers are another piece of this law. In January of 2008, the Florida Legislature passed legislation that allows...

 Reel Time: Salon fundraiser meets with success

Salon (noun) - a conversational gathering of notables held at the home of a prominent person. On Saturday afternoon, Suncoast Waterkeeper held its Suncoast Salon fundraiser at the Sarasota home of Anna Maria residents Bill and Debbie Partridge. The event was a sellout and attracted some of...

Temporary paid parking vendors hired

BRADENTON BEACH – City commissioners considered four temporary use parking permits at the March 21 commission meeting and after much discussion, approved three with stipulations, denying one. Permit applications were submitted by developer Shawn Kaleta for temporary parking lots at 102 Third St. N., 207 Church Ave. and...

Fire department sued over rental regulations

BRADENTON – Almost a year after passing a resolution changing the district’s approach to taxing and inspecting vacation rental properties in residential areas, West Manatee Fire Rescue is receiving pushback from one rental owner. During a March 19 commission meeting, the district’s attorney, Maggie Mooney, informed the board...

Bridge Street traffic, parking among commission concerns

BRADENTON BEACH – In what was an unusually lengthy, seven-hour city commission meeting that began at noon on March 21, commissioners dove into parking and traffic issues, pickleball and organ donation. BRIDGE STREET ONE WAY? A Bridge Street business owner asked the commission to consider making Bridge Street one...

Scaccianoce new Bradenton Beach commissioner

BRADENTON BEACH – Ward 1 has a new commissioner. The application for commissioner by business owner and former Manatee County records manager Deborah Scaccianoce was approved by the commission and she was sworn in at its March 21 meeting. She filled the vacant seat left by former Commissioner Jake...

Kruse talks beach parking, Island consolidation

HOLMES BEACH – About two dozen people came out on March 20 to meet with Manatee County Commissioner George Kruse, bringing their questions for the candidate, who is seeking re-election in November. Kruse held a town hall meeting at the Island Branch Library where he answered every question...

Commissioners deny bids for paid parking

BRADENTON BEACH – Rather than partnering with an outside vendor as planned, commissioners are now considering city-managed paid parking lots throughout Bradenton Beach. The city had put out a Request for Proposals (RFP) on Feb. 9 to “Provide the City with a complete parking management and enforcement system...