With all the water from Hurricane Debby last Sunday, many of you wanted to know how the turtle nests faired during that heavy water event. We checked in with Turtle Time’s Eve Haverfield for an update. She said, “It’s complicated.”
Before Hurricane Debby last Sunday, 109 nests were documented, the exact the same number of nests as 2022. Ten of those nests were lost as a result of the excessive and historic rainfall in June, especially on June 11th, 12th and 13th. Hurricane Debby magnified the attrition.
21 of the 109 nests hatched successfully. Of the remaining nests, all were flooded from Debby, 38 were completely washed away, according to Haverfield. “We will not know the survival rate of the remaining 40 nests until the 70th day of incubation which is when we’re permitted to excavate the nests to determine statistics.”
Haverfield says on a brighter note, 2 nests hatched successfully post Debby. “The tenacity of little hatchlings is amazing. For the few that might still hatch, please encourage your audience to close their drapes at night and use Amber LED light bulbs so that those lucky survivors can reach the gulf. The new technology of Amber LEDs keeps hatchlings in the dark, not people.”
Haverfield said she would also like to add that sea turtles lay multiple nests each season which increases the odds that at least some of their hatchlings will survive. “We are still hoping for some new nests in August.”
Learn more about Turtle Time HERE.
Learn more about turtle lighting/lights on Fort Myers Beach HERE.
Dependable, Accurate, Investigative Journalism take time. To support our work, become a BTR Monthly Member HERE.
That is one thing I would love to see in my life time. A memory you would never forget. Thanks for the updates. . 🐢 I live in Cape Coral and love to watch the burrowing owl families,
but they grow up fast and leave their nests quickly also. 🦉 Always pray for better luck next year.
TLM = Turtle Lives Matter 🐢