Sea Turtles  

Florida is home to the loggerhead sea turtle (Caretta caretta) , a threatened species, and the endangered green sea turtle (Chelonia mydas), leatherback turtle (Dermochelys coriacea), hawksbill sea turtle (Eretmochelys imbricata), and Kemp’s ridley sea turtle (Lepidochelys kempii).  Sea turtles live in the Atlantic and Gulf of Mexico, but come to shore to lay eggs on sandy beaches.  Once hatched, the baby sea turtles make their way back to the sea.  

Artificial lighting near a beach can interfere with normal nocturnal habits of the nesting sea turtles.   Stay away from crawling or nesting sea turtles.  Sea turtles found on the beach should not be bothered in any way. Do not dispose of plastic bags in the beach or ocean, since they resemble jellyfish, a favorite food of sea turtles  and will cause illness or death to the turtle.

What to do if you find an injured sea turtle?

Florida Marine Research Institute sea turtle information

Bureau of Protected Species Management

Broward County info on sea turtles

Sea turtle bibliography

Archie Carr Center for Sea Turtle Research

Back to Top