TABLE OF CONTENTS
When do sea turtles nest?
Mainly at night. Leatherbacks nest from early March through mid-June typically, but this species accounts for less than 1% of
the nests we get in Broward County. Loggerheads are our biggest nester and tend to nest from April through early September,
with peak months being June and July. Greens nest from late May through early September, with alternating extreme high (even
years) and low (odd years) nesting seasons.
Depends on the species. Average for loggerheads and greens are about 100-110 ping-pong ball sized eggs. Leatherbacks lay
about 90 tennis ball sized eggs. All sea turtle eggs are leathery and somewhat soft so they dent instead of breaking.
Adult loggerheads average 200-250 lbs. Greens can way up to 500 lbs. Leatherbacks can get up to 1500 lbs (the biggest being
recorded at 2000 lbs)
There has not been a turtle followed from emergence to natural death, so this is a guesstimate based on the information we do
have. It is assumed that sea turtles can live 60 or more years depending on species. Onset of sexual maturity is also species
dependant, but is typically around 20 years.
Loggerheads and green eggs hatch in about 45-55 days. Leatherback eggs take a bit longer, reaching upwards of 75 days,
sometimes longer.
A natural or in situ nest will have a hatching success rate of 80-100%, while a
relocated nest will have a hatching success rate of 60-70%. Overall,
only 1 in 1,000 to 10,000 sea turtles will live to maturity. Major
predators after nest emergence are birds and fish."
As hatchlings, you can't tell by looking. As adults, males have a much longer tail than females, and a curved claw on each
front flipper. Sand temperature affects gender: 29.6 degrees C during the middle third of incubation will produce a 50:50
gender ratio. A couple of degrees higher will produce all females and a couple of degrees cooler will produce all males.
Nesting: The Museum of Science and Discover in Ft. Lauderdale, John U. Lloyd State Park in Dania, and Gumbo Limbo Nature
Center in Boca Raton all have sea turtle walks. Call them directly for times and reservations.
Hatchlings: Our program, in conjunction with Anne Kolb Nature Center at West Lake Park in Hollywood, has public hatchling
releases from mid-July through mid-September. You should call them directly for reservations, which are required. Please
call the Turtle Emergency response (954 328-0580) if you find hatchlings in Broward County headed away from the sea or on the
road.
Yes, that seems to be the case. An individual turtle will nest within 5 miles to 35 miles, on average, of where they hatched
from and/or nested in the past, based on tagging studies. There's also evidence that the hatchlings can detect variations in
the earth's magnetic field and that's how they navigate back.
Yes, an individual loggerhead or green female will nest 2-3 times per year, typically at 2-3 week intervals. Leatherbacks will
nest 2-3 times per year at 10 day intervals (approximately). She will not nest every year however, but rather every other year
or third year. This will depend on how well they eat during the year/non-nesting season.
Revised: 01/26/05
How many eggs do they lay?
How big do sea turtles get?
How long do sea turtles live?
How long does it take the eggs to hatch?
How many of the eggs actually hatch?
How do you tell the sex of the sea turtles?
How can I get to see a turtle nesting or their babies?
Do turtles come back to nest on the same beach they hatched?
Will a turtle nest more than one a year?
When do sea turtles nest?
How many eggs do they lay?
How big do sea turtles get?
How long do sea turtles live?
How long does it take the eggs to hatch?
How many of the eggs actually hatch?
How do you tell the sex of sea turtles?
How can I get to see a turtle nesting or their babies?
Do turtles come back to nest on the same beach they were hatched?
Will a turtle nest more than once a year?
