The 2026 nesting season is shattering records on Southwest Florida’s sanctuary islands. The Sanibel-Captiva Conservation Foundation (SCCF) announced that as of June 17, 2026, its dedicated sea turtle monitoring team had officially documented an incredible 664 loggerhead nests and seven green sea turtle nests lining local shores.
At the LeAneSuarezGroup, we watch these wildlife metrics closely. A thriving marine turtle population is a beautiful testament to the undisturbed, eco-conscious environment that our island homeowners and real estate investors deeply cherish.
In a nutshell: Local sea turtle nesting counts have drastically surged compared to this time last year, totaling over 671 active nests. While predator pressures from coyotes are down significantly percentage-wise, conservationists are urging extreme caution out on the water following a tragic, fatal vessel strike on a beloved island nester.
The 2026 Nesting Data: A Year-Over-Year Surge
The current surge in nesting activity marks a dramatic upward trend from the 450 loggerhead nests and six green sea turtle nests documented by this exact date in 2025.
Even better news for regional conservationists: coyote depredation percentages have plummeted. To date, 113 nests (16.8%) have been impacted by coyotes, which is a significant drop from the 143 nests (31.4%) lost to predators by this mid-June baseline last year.
SANIBEL & CAPTIVA NEST METRICS (AS OF JUNE 17)
[ CAPTIVA ISLAND ] ──► 136 Total Nests │ 36 Nests Depredated by Coyotes
[ SANIBEL ISLAND ] ──► 535 Total Nests │ 77 Nests Depredated by Coyotes
Expanding the Roster: New Turtles Added to the Satellite Tracking Portal
In a major win for regional oceanic research, SCCF’s nighttime monitoring team has successfully deployed two additional satellite transmitters, allowing the public to map out deep-sea migratory journeys.
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Reina del Marisol: Discovered nesting on Sanibel’s east end on June 3, this mature female loggerhead was previously tagged in 2016 and encountered again in 2022. Her state-of-the-art satellite tag was sponsored by the students of Naples-based Parkside Elementary School through their annual Parkside Everglades Week program, earning the youth the honor of naming her.
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Aidan: Encountered nesting on Sanibel’s west end on June 10, this highly active mother has become a familiar sight to researchers. First tagged in June 2024, she has already been encountered seven times on the island, including four separate nesting appearances this season alone. Her tracking tag was generously sponsored by local supporters John and Kathy McCabe.
You can watch the real-time marine movements of Reina del Marisol, Aidan, and Lila by visiting the live SCCF Sea Turtle Tracking Portal.
A Heartbreaking Loss: The Legacy of “Pat Benatar”
Amid the record-setting numbers, the island conservation community is mourning a profound loss. On May 27, wildlife biologists responded to a deceased loggerhead that had washed ashore on Captiva with severe trauma consistent with a watercraft vessel strike.
Further microchip and flipper tag evaluation revealed the turtle was a treasured staple of the night-tagging program. First tagged in May 2023 under a legendary female singers naming theme, she was named “Pat Benatar” due to her compact size and remarkably spunky attitude. Pat was encountered eight times in 2023 alone, making her one of the most frequently tracked turtles of that cycle.
HONORING "PAT BENATAR" THE LOGGERHEAD
[ MAY 2023 ] ──► First documented and named for her small size and spunky behavior.
[ MAY 2024 ] ──► Returned to local shores to lay a highly successful nest.
[ MAY 2026 ] ──► Laid her final known nest on May 12 before passing away on May 27.
“As we watched her lay her eggs and make her way back to the ocean [on May 12], I thought to myself, ‘Bye Pat, I hope to see you again when you come back to lay another nest.’ Sadly, the next time I saw her, she had washed ashore deceased… We watch them return year after year, witness their nesting journeys and celebrate their contributions to future generations. Losing one is always difficult.” — Savannah Weber, SCCF Sea Turtle Biologist
A Vital Call to Action for Holiday Boaters
Because sea turtles must surface at regular intervals to breathe, they are extraordinarily vulnerable to propeller and hull impacts in shallow coastal shelf waters. Pat’s tragic story serves as a powerful regional reminder for all boaters to practice strict coastal safety guidelines:
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Obey Speed Regulations: Strictly follow all reduced-speed and no-wake zones near passes, channels, and shorelines.
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Wear Polarized Lenses: Always wear high-quality polarized sunglasses to cut through surface glare and dramatically improve your underwater visibility.
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Assign a Dedicated Spotter: When cruising or traveling at speed, designate a specific passenger to scan the surface ahead for marine life.
Though her life ended far too soon, Pat successfully laid at least one robust nest this season on May 12. SCCF crews are closely protecting the site and anticipate that healthy hatchlings will emerge later this summer, ensuring her spunky legacy lives on in the next generation of island turtles.
To report any issues relating to stranded marine life, active hatchlings, or nest disruptions, immediately call the SCCF Sea Turtle Hotline at 978-728-3663. Let’s keep our boat speeds down and our beaches dark!
