Sea turtle nesting season is officially underway on Sanibel Island.
On April 25, staff and volunteers from the Sanibel-Captiva Conservation Foundation (SCCF) discovered the first loggerhead sea turtle nest of the 2025 season along the island’s east end. The nest has been carefully staked off and will be closely monitored during daily sunrise surveys throughout its incubation period.
This nest is the first of what SCCF expects to be hundreds more laid along the beaches of Sanibel and Captiva over the coming months. Loggerhead turtles, a threatened species, return to our shores each year to nest—making community support and awareness vital to their survival.
To help protect nesting sea turtles and their hatchlings, SCCF encourages beachgoers and residents to follow these important guidelines:
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Fill in holes and flatten sandcastles before leaving the beach. Obstacles like these can trap or injure turtles.
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Turn off or shield lights visible from the beach after 9 p.m. Artificial lighting disorients hatchlings and nesting females.
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Avoid using flashlights or phone lights on the beach at night.
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Remove all beach furniture, equipment, and trash at the end of the day to prevent obstructions or entanglement.
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Keep your distance from marked nests and never disturb nesting sea turtles.
If you see lighting violations, hazards on the beach, stranded turtles, or have questions about nests, please contact the SCCF Sea Turtle Hotline at 978-SAVE-ONE (239-728-3663).
Every step we take helps ensure a safe return for these incredible marine animals—season after season.
