LORRAINE THOMPSON
Special to The Record
Publication Date: 07/08/09
Sea turtle nests along St. Johns County beaches are expected to begin hatching this week, according to Tara Dodson, St. Johns County Habitat Conservation Coordinator.
There were 144 nests along the county beaches earlier in the week. Volunteer turtle patrol members are monitoring 101 nests on the north beaches and 43 nests on the south beaches. Loggerheads account for the majority with 101 nests.
There are 18 leatherback and five green turtle nests. All are considered endangered species and are protected under federal law.
There also have been 78 false crawl reports. A false crawl is when a sea turtle comes ashore to nest and returns to the ocean without nesting because she was scared off or the sand conditions were not right.
Dodson is calling on beachgoers for assistance during this, the busiest time of the year for the turtles and their nests. While hatchlings begin to head for the open sea, nesting turtles continue to arrive to establish nests and lay eggs.
This season turns out to be a bit tricky for estimating the incubation time, however.
"Our first round of sea turtle nests that are set to hatch may have extended incubation periods because of the lengthy rains and cooler temperatures we had at the beginning of the season," Dodson said.
As the nests do begin to emerge, Dodson said, a rut-raking program prepares the way for the hatchlings. Vehicle tire ruts and large holes left by beach visitors can trap or impede the hatchlings as they crawl to the ocean from their nests.
As many as 100 or more turtles may emerge from each nest. As the nests near maturity, county employees hand rake the areas between the dune nests and the ocean to remove the indents and holes.
Dodson is concerned about other beach obstructions, particularly chairs, tents and objects that are left on the beaches overnight.
Beachgoers are reminded that the beaches are not private areas, but are all public beaches. The Habitat Conservation Plan, a 20-year agreement with the U. S. Fish and Wildlife Service, prohibits leaving impediments behind.
A St. Johns County Ordinance covers "any personal property including but not limited to tents, shelters, chairs, catamarans, trailers, towels, shoes, and other such items that is left on the beach overnight is hereby declared a public nuisance and shall be subject to removal from the beach with other beach trash and debris."
County and City of St. Augustine Beach law enforcement officers are authorized to remove the items.
Dodson said sand castles and holes dug in the sand are dangerous for people as well as turtles. Most castles and other sand sculptures are not restored to the beach's normal surface when visitors depart.
The turtle nesting season runs from May 1 through Oct. 31.
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