Human visitors are not the only fans of Anna Maria Island’s white sandy beaches. Our friends the sea turtles love to drop by to begin a new cycle of their sea faring lives. Sea turtle nesting season is in full swing from now until the end of October. This one of a kind Mother Nature event is thousands of years old and is something that inspires and captures the attention of both island residents and visitors alike. Let’s explorer a few of the reasons this occasion captures our attention every year.
Florida Sea Turtle Nesting Season Facts
Around 90% of all sea turtle nesting in the US takes place right here in Florida! The sea turtle nesting season on the Florida Gulf Coast runs from May 1st to October 31st but turtles don’t read the calendar so our sea friends can be spotted before and after the official season period. June and July are the most popular times for us to observe these amazing creatures in action. During those two months you can see the female turtles coming ashore, and the first hatchlings making their way out into the ocean at the same time!
The Sea Turtles Themselves
Sea turtles are one of the Earth’s oldest inhabitants. They have been around for over 110 million years since the time of the dinosaurs. Their signature look, the shell, is called a carapace and is streamlined to glide through water. They come in all sizes and colors depending on the species and there is currently seven known species two of which are a part of the Anna Maria sea turtle nesting season. They mostly love feasting on other sea creatures, depending on the species, with a diet that includes jellyfish, seaweed, shrimp, sponges and others. Besides the day they are hatched, they do not return to land except to nest making it hard to get a glimpse of one of these enchanting animals.
Species of Sea Turtles on Anna Maria Island
Anna Maria Island’s sea turtle nesting season species is dominated by the Loggerhead turtle. They are the most populous of the sea turtles with an estimated size of 40 to 50 thousand females. They are huge at 155 to 375 pounds with a large head and heavy strong jaws. Our next most populous visitor is the Green turtle otherwise known as the black sea turtle. This sea friend is unique from other species because they have a single pair of scales at the front of their eyes as opposed to the two pairs of other sea turtles. Other species have been known to grace Anna Maria Island’s coasts to nest but none more so as often as the previous two species of sea turtle.
Are you ready to experience the Anna Maria sea turtle nesting season in person? Give Sato Real Estate a call at (941) 778-7200 or send us a quick email and we’ll help you book your Anna Maria vacation rental today!