Mid-Season Update

We’re fast approaching the peak of leatherback nesting and wanted to give you a quick update. We have encountered leatherbacks a total of 182 times. We often see the same individuals multiple times since leatherbacks return every 8-11 days and can nest up to 10-11 times each season! We have seen a total of 86 Read more about Mid-Season Update[…]

Three Week Update

It’s been a bit of a slow start for us. We had multiple ATV issues pop up within just two days and out survey team got cut short until we could get them repaired. Our team covers approximately 25 miles of beach each night with just a three-volunteer team so our ATVs are crucial to Read more about Three Week Update[…]

The 2019 season is almost here!

In less than two months, our team will once again be on the beach conducting research on Florida’s endangered leatherback sea turtles. Our lead biologists have been doing this work for nearly 20 years! We have encountered leatherbacks thousands of times and identified over 800 unique individuals. In 2019, our team of volunteers encountered leatherbacks Read more about The 2019 season is almost here![…]

Tracking Excitement!

We’ve been having lots of fun on the beach this past week. On Saturday, May 5th, we attached a transmitter to one of our nesting leatherbacks as part of a new research project that we’re conducting in collaboration with Fisheries and Oceans Canada. The transmitter will allow us to follow this leatherback as she leaves Read more about Tracking Excitement![…]

150 Encounters

As of last night we reached 150 encounters this season! We’ve had 27 encounters this week alone. We have seen a total of 78 individuals and 19 of those were new, untagged turtles. A few days ago we found a turtle with a PIT tag that we didn’t recognize. We asked around and discovered that Read more about 150 Encounters[…]

100+ Encounters

This week our team passed 100 leatherback encounters for the season. We are currently at 114 encounters and the peak of season is still a few weeks away. We have seen a total of 71 individuals. 15 of those were new, untagged turtles. This week alone we have had 21 encounters. Our most frequently encountered Read more about 100+ Encounters[…]

Big Year?

It’s only April 6th but we’re already up to 37 leatherback encounters! That could be a sign of a good year! At this point last year, we had just 12! Several of our turtles have now been seen more than  once. Rosa is already on her fourth nest! Last night we encountered six leatherbacks! That’s Read more about Big Year?[…]

Mid-Season Update

Well it has been a while! Sorry for the lack of updates but the season always keeps us busy. Last night marked our 50th leatherback encounter of the year. Sadly, it’s been quite slow out there. Low leatherback numbers are being reported around the state. After a couple of low years in 2015 and 2016, Read more about Mid-Season Update[…]