news release

The sea turtle nesting season officially begins in Indian River County on March 1st and runs through October 31st. During these months, three different types of sea turtles typically crawl ashore at night and select a sandy location to deposit their eggs. The first species to arrive are usually the leatherback sea turtles, followed by the loggerheads and then the green sea turtles. A few nests have already been observed in counties to our south, with Indian River County still awaiting the arrival of these marine reptiles.
The previous 2023 nesting season proved to be fantastic as several records were broken. There is no way to predict how many nests the 2024 season will bring; however local trends are looking positive for a good upcoming season.
Nesting Totals within Indian River County

The sea turtle nesting season officially begins in Indian River County on March 1st and runs through October 31st. During these months, three different types of sea turtles typically crawl ashore at night and select a sandy location to deposit their eggs. The first species to arrive are usually the leatherback sea turtles, followed by the loggerheads and then the green sea turtles. A few nests have already been observed in counties to our south, with Indian River County still awaiting the arrival of these marine reptiles.
The previous 2023 nesting season proved to be fantastic as several records were broken. There is no way to predict how many nests the 2024 season will bring; however local trends are looking positive for a good upcoming season.

Nesting Totals within Indian River County
Season	2023	2022	2021
Leatherback Nests	27	101*	24
Loggerhead Nests	8,639*	7,431	5,629
Green Nests	4,105*	1,823	1,514
TOTAL	12,771	9,355	7,167

* Indicates a new record. All species of sea turtles, their eggs, hatchlings, and nests are protected by State and Federal laws because they are either endangered or threatened. Only individuals that have a permit from Florida Fish and Wildlife are allowed to handle sea turtles.