ANNA MARIE ISLAND, Fla. (970 WFLA) - Sea turtles are going for another record year.
Nesting season started this week along the Gulf beaches, and Manatee County observers hope it will top last year's record of 4,588 nests on a 35 mile stretch of sand.
“So, there’s about 100-120 eggs in a single nest,” Mote biologist Melissa Bernhard told News Channel 8. “Not every egg or every nest makes it, but there are a lot of turtles coming out every year.”
Beach observers said it's very important not to interfere with the nesting process. Plus, it's against the law to bother them.
“Sea turtles are protected under the Endangered Species Act nationally and under Florida law as well,” said Bernhard. “It is illegal to touch or harm any turtle egg hatchling, or even the stakes we use to mark the nests.”
It's crucial to keep lights off after dark along the beach, including cell phones. Baby turtles can be confused by light, and can mistakenly crawl away from the water by accident.
photo credit: WFLA-TV