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The loggerhead turtle, scientifically named Caretta caretta, was identified by
the Endangered Species Act as a threatened species worldwide in 1978. Today, the
status of the loggerhead remains endangered as human influences on both the animal's
nesting and marine environment are directly contributing to its decline in population.While
loggerheads can be found around the world, one third of the world's population
of loggerheads choose to nest on the beachfronts and estuarine shorelines of
Florida.
Public observation of the loggerheads are available through turtle walks, which
are guided by park rangers and animal conservation organizations during the months
of May through July along Florida's East Coast. Participants of the turtle walks
are able to gain a rare, first-hand experience into observing the nesting patters
and behaviors of the loggerheads, without the risk of disturbing the turtles or
their habitat. Many popular tourist destinations, beaches and recreational activities
are also found within this area.
LOGGERHEAD TURTLE WALKS
Turtle walks are evening guided tours along the beaches of Florida's East Coast
by various wildlife and loggerhead turtle experts. The concept of turtle walks,
as an opportunity for public observation and education, originated decades ago
from volunteers and wildlife officials who were monitoring the beach at night
for nesting turtles. Since large concentrations of loggerhead turtles choose
to nest in this area, participants are lead along the beach by wildlife officials
with the hope of observing the turtle's natural nesting habits. The animal’s
nesting season spans from May to September, where four to seven nests are laid
approximately 14 days apart. At night, the female loggerhead crawls ashore and
digs a shallow pit where an average of 100 eggs are deposited, and then returns
to the sea. Due to the evening nesting patterns of the loggerheads, the walks
range from 1 to 3 hours in duration and are commonly available from 9pm to 12am
during June and July. In order to respect and not disturb the turtle during
nesting, only a small number of people are allowed during each walk, making
registration mandatory. Participants must be aware that a turtle sighting is
not guaranteed and that flashlights and flash photography are not permitted.
In order to remain as still and camouflaged as possible, bug repellent and dark
clothing is recommended for all participants.
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Tracks Found By The
Folly
Beach Turtle
Watch
Photo Courtesy
Nancy Smith
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NORTHEAST COAST OF FLORIDA
Melbourne
Turtle walks are
available at two separate facilities within Melbourne. The Sea
Turtle Preservation Society, which is focused on providing research,
education and rescue operations to the area, offer guided turtle
walks in June and July with a donation to the society. During the same
months, turtle
walks from the Sebastian Inlet State Recreational Area are also provided
along the beach of the Sebastian
Inlet State Park. This park is located on the tips of two barrier islands
on the Atlantic coast, which provides many recreational opportunities for activities
such as surfing, crabbing, shrimping, and clamming. As a result of Melbourne’s
direct coastal access, a series of natural lagoons and inlets containing a combination
of freshwater and inland runoff are publicly accessible at the
Indian River Lagoon. Such diverse conditions create ideal habitats for
many native mammals, birds, fish and reptiles that can easily be observed from
numerous marked walking trails. Visitors in the area whom are looking for additional
opportunities to participate in animal viewing will enjoy the over 400 animals
exhibited at the Brevard
Zoo.
For more information on
Florida's Northeast Coast, visit the WorldWeb.com Travel Guides for:
Melbourne |
Florida's Space Coast |
Old Florida |
Greater Jacksonville
CENTRAL EAST COAST OF
FLORIDA
Hobe Sound
The Hobe Sound National Wildlife Refuge turtle
walks are offered during June and July on Tuesday and Thursday evenings
along the shores of the Hobe
Sound Beach with a donation to the refuge. The Hobe
Sound National Wildlife Refuge is an area wildlife conservation, rehabilitation
and preservation society, that also hosts various visitor educational and interactive
programs throughout the year. Most recognizable for its large surf, which regularly
reaches heights of six feet, the public Hobe Sound Beach is also a popular fishing
and birdwatching area for both locals and visitors.
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Endangered Status
On July 28,
1978, the loggerhead turtle was listed under the International Endangered
Species Act as a threatened species throughout its range. To be known
as a threatened species, although a significant population of the species
exists, it is likely to become endangered in the foreseeable future. The
result is that any person in the United States of America, who knowingly
violates the act by killing a turtle or harming its nest or eggs may receive
a civil penalty of up to $25,000 or a criminal penalty of up to $50,000.
This legislation also extends to prohibit hunting and possession of the
animal's shell for cultural, spiritual and commercial use.
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Juno Beach
Turtle
walks from the
Marinelife
Center cover approximately a half-mile radius of the shores of Juno Beach
on select nights during the months of June and July. The Marinelife Center is
a non-profit conservation facility that provides both rehabilitation and educational
programs for visitors year-round. Juno Beach has become a notable tourist area
based on its number of nature areas including
Pelican
Lake. Originally built in 1953 to function as a man-made retention pond,
Pelican Lake has 12-acres of fresh water, numerous recreational areas and opportunities
for fishing and bird watching. A one mile paved path encompasses the lake, and
invites visitors to participate in guided nature tours called the
Pelican
Lake Walks.
North Palm Beach
Scheduled based upon moon phases, which directly effects the turtle's nesting
patterns, park ranger led turtle
walks from the John
D. MacArthur State Park are available on the John
D. MacArthur Beach throughout the months of June and July. The beach,
which is named after its benefactor, is approximately two miles of undeveloped
beachfront featuring a 1,600-foot wooden pedestrian boardwalk. The John D. MacArthur
Beach State Park houses an educational nature center as well as provides a variety
of visitor programs and observation tours year-round. For example, guided
reef tours and bird
watching walking tours are provided throughout the park and the surrounding
area by park rangers. Participants are encouraged to provide his or her own
equipment and must make reservations for each tour.
For more information on
these areas on Florida's Central East Coast, visit the WorldWeb.com Travel Guides for:
North
Palm Beach | Juno
Beach | Hobe
Sound | The Palm
Beaches
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Human Impacts
on the Marine Environment
An increasing
threat to juvenile turtles are Fibropapilloma Tumors (FT), which are small
lesions or white spots that usually develop into large tumors. These tumors
occur most often around the animal's neck, shoulders and eyes. As the
tumors grow in size, the turtle may experience difficulties in swimming,
breathing and eating, resulting in death. Scientists have determined that
the leading cause for this disease is contaminated or polluted ocean water.
Dumping garbage into the ocean is also a deadly polluting force on loggerhead
turtles. This is because the debris settles in sea grasses and rocky areas
where feeding turtles can mistake a piece of harmful garbage as food.
High-speed commercial, fishing and recreational vessels also pose a large
threat to loggerheads as propellers can frighten them from feeding areas
or strike and either injure or kill the animal. The loggerheads are also
threatened by commercial fishing nets, as they can become easily tangled,
trapped and drowned.
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SOUTHEAST COAST OF FLORIDA
Boca Raton
Turtle
walks from the Gumbo
Limbo Environmental Complex are available from 9pm-11:30pm every Monday,
Wednesday and Thursday night during the months of May, June and July. The Gumbo
Limbo Environmental Complex is a 20-center complex where few of the surviving
coastal hammocks in the area can be experienced from atop an elevated boardwalk.
Another natural attractions to Boca Raton is the Dagger
Wing Nature Center which offers various opportunities to interact with
the natural environment and habitats unique to the area.
Dania Beach
The John
U. Lloyd Beach State Park provides turtle walks with participation in
its Sea
Turtle Awareness program. The program begins with a slide presentation,
an assortment of displays and a question and answer period. During the months
of May-July, the program is offered on Wednesdays and Fridays. The John U. Lloyd
Beach State Park is located on the shore of a barrier island, between the Atlantic
Ocean and the Intracoastal Waterway. Therefore, many natural observation and
recreational opportunities are available at the park or from the shore of Dania
Beach. Additional natural tourist attractions include the Secret
Woods Nature Center and Graves
Museum of Archaeology and Natural History. Both exhibit interpretative
displays of the area’s natural history and gardens. Fishing is also a popular
recreational activity in the area for both locals and visitors, as well as the
focus of the Fishing
Hall of Fame and Museum.
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Turtle Hatchlings Observed By
The Folly Beach Turtle Watch
Photo Courtesy Nancy Smith
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Ft. Lauderdale
Guided
moonlight
sea turtle walks along the shores of Ft. Lauderdale are available with
participation in the Sea Turtle Awareness program at the
Museum
of Discovery and Science. An informational session about land, salt-water
and fresh-water turtles is also provided before the walk. The program is available
May-July, but the museum is open year round, housing over 200 hands-on exhibits.
Visitors can interact with the city's natural environment through various
walking
and
boat
tours. The
Riverwalk
Ft. Lauderdale is a waterfront park in the middle of the city’s downtown
section, with an approximately one mile paved walking path lined with shops
and restaurants.
Hugh
Taylor Birch State Park also provides a 2 mile paved loop road for walking,
biking and rollerblading within the city.
For more information on
Florida's Southeast Coast, visit the WorldWeb.com Travel Guides for: Boca Raton |
Dania
Beach |
Fort Lauderdale | Greater
Fort Lauderdale Greater Miami
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Human Impacts
on the Nesting Environment
Loggerheads
have a high affinity for their nesting beaches and an increase in human
presence, especially at night, forces the turtles to nest in more isolated
areas that present unfavorable conditions. Artificial lighting at night
produces a disorientating effect on both infant and adult turtles. After
hatching, infant turtles instinctively crawl towards the moon and can
thereby be distracted by artificial lighting and unsuccessfully navigate
their way to the ocean. Although beach nourishment and cleaning adds to
the aesthetic value of most beaches, the adding of sand and use of machines
and rakes can bury existing nests and create such compacted conditions
that it is impossible for the turtles to dig proper nests.
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HOW TO HELP
Individual consciousness,
awareness and actions can significantly help the loggerhead from becoming extinct.
Avoiding the beach at night, particularly during the nesting months of May-September
can prevent upsetting or harming a nesting turtle. If a turtle or a turtle’s
nest is observed in a dangerous or threatening situation, such as an approaching
road, experiencing human harassment or is injured, immediately contact the Florida
Fish and Wildlife Conservation Commission. Both the turtle's food supply
and environment can easily be protected by simply not throwing trash or unwanted
items into the ocean. Volunteering with area beach monitoring programs, offered
by the Sea Turtle Preservation Society for example, can also significantly reduce
the dangers and death of area loggerheads. If a loggerhead of observed while
diving, never attempt to handle, flash photograph, feed or ride the animal,
as it is not only illegal but potentially harmful. Participation in adopt-a-sea-turtle
programs offered by such reputable non profit organizations as the Caribbean
Conservation Corporation, the Clearwater
Marine Aquarium and the
Mote Marine Laboratory, provides the organization with sufficient funding
for education programs and resources to address threats to the turtle's natural
habitat.
United States
