The Sanibel-Captiva Conservation Foundation (SCCF) is gearing up for peak sea turtle nesting season, which runs from May through July. During these months, SCCF’s dedicated night-tagging team patrols local beaches nightly to identify, tag, and collect valuable data on nesting turtles. This essential tagging helps researchers track nesting habits, migration paths, and the overall reproductive health of Sanibel-Captiva’s turtle populations.
As of June 3, SCCF has documented 120 turtle nesting encounters this season. Of these, 42 turtles are new visitors to Sanibel, while 78 are returning nesters. Each year, SCCF staff selects a creative naming theme for newly tagged turtles—2025’s playful theme is “space.”
Sea turtle biologist Savannah Weber highlights the importance of this ongoing research: “Tracking individual turtles each season allows us to learn each turtle’s unique nesting story—her preferred nesting spots, return frequency, nest success rates, and the challenges she might face. These details are vital for the protection and conservation of Sanibel’s turtle populations.”
This season’s noteworthy turtles include “Taurus,” a newly tagged loggerhead named after the zodiac constellation. Taurus first appeared during a beautifully moonlit night in mid-May, providing researchers with a rare and clear glimpse of her nesting. She returned just 11 nights later, though this time she only left false crawl tracks. Researchers eagerly await her next nesting attempt.
Another beloved turtle, Cherry Vanilla, has become a local favorite. Initially tagged during the “ice cream flavors” theme in 2017, she has consistently returned every two years, establishing nests that have successfully produced 474 hatchlings since her first appearance. Cherry Vanilla has shown a strong preference for nesting on Sanibel’s west end and has already been spotted twice this season.
As of June 4, the SCCF team recorded 287 loggerhead nests and three green turtle nests on the islands of Sanibel and Captiva.
If you encounter any issues involving sea turtles or their nests, please immediately contact the SCCF Sea Turtle Hotline at 978-728-3663.
For guidelines on helping nesting sea turtles, visit SanCap Life Savers.
To support SCCF’s sea turtle conservation efforts through the Adopt a Sea Turtle or Lifetime Adoption programs, please visit SCCF’s Species Adoption Programs.
