Turtle Nests in St. Johns County



Special to The Record
Publication Date: 08/22/09

Nests in St. Johns County

North Beaches

Loggerheads 179

Greens 5

Leatherbacks 16

Total 200

Anastasia Island

Loggerheads 46

Greens 2

Leatherbacks 6

Total 54

Matanzas Inlet South

Loggerheads 8

Greens 1

Leatherbacks 1

Total 10

Total 264

Reported Successful Nest Hatchings as of Friday: Total 94

Fast Facts:

* Loggerheads are the most common nesting sea turtle in St. Johns County. They prefer to nest between the wrack line, which indicates the high tide mark, and the base of the dune.

* Each female loggerhead makes an average of four nests separated by two week intervals over the course of the nesting season that's up to 400 eggs.

* Loggerheads are distinguished by their strong jaws, which they use to make meals of crabs and mollusks.

For information, go to www.sjcfl.us/HCP/index.aspx

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