08/13/2022
All I can say is WOW
: The first leatherback nest in Escambia County in over 20 years hatched last night! 🎉
🌙 Approximately 60 leatherback hatchlings made their way to the Gulf late last night. The hatchlings were aided by a full moon and were able to make their way to the Gulf unassisted, which is a rare victory on our developed coastline. This is the only leatherback nest in northwest Florida this season and the first to successfully hatch since 2000. It proved to be a long wait for our Sea Turtle Volunteers, who have been keeping an eye on the nest over the entirety of its 78-day incubation. We cannot thank them enough for their patience and dedication to monitoring this nest.
Though sometimes seen offshore, leatherbacks are considered rare visitors to our beaches, preferring to nest along the southeastern coast of Florida. These tiny hatchlings have a long journey ahead of them, but the ones that survive to adulthood will grow to over six feet long and up to 1500 pounds, making them the largest living sea turtle.
👣This is just the beginning of our hatching season in Escambia County. Help every hatchling make to the Gulf safely by remembering and to when visiting our beaches.
ℹRead the full story here: https://tinyurl.com/LeatherbackHatch
All turtle work performed under MTP . Pictures taken without flash and in natural light settings.
Photo Credit: Stephenie Allen, Escambia County
