Turtles don't love Siesta sand like people do

Sea turtle nesting season is here, and Mote doesn't expect to see many nests on Siesta Beach.

By Cassidy Alexander
| 9:46 a.m. May 9, 2018

Siesta Key
News

People come to Siesta Beach from all over the world to experience the powdery sand. It’s made of quartz and stays cool to the touch despite the summer sun, and has helped the beach gain worldwide recognition.

Sea turtles, on the other hand, seem to hate the place. Siesta Beach consistently sees low numbers of turtle nests during nesting season, which officially began May 1 and runs through October. Instead, they flock to — what else? — Turtle Beach.

A Mote volunteer checks out a nest on Longboat Key.

Typically, of the 600 or so nests that are laid on Siesta Key, only 100 or 150 are found on the north end.

“For whatever reason the turtles like the coarser grain, heavier slope,” said Melissa Bernhard, a senior biologist with Mote Marine Laboratory’s Sea Turtle Conservation and Research Program. “Something about that is happier for the turtles.”

Read: Turtle tally takes slight downward turn, but stays strong in 2017

The two habitats within one island are what make Siesta stand out in Mote’s coverage area, which spans from Longboat Key to Venice. Siesta Beach’s quartz sand is very different from the dark, coarse sand on Turtle Beach.

Mote's tips for co-existing with turtles

On the Shore

If you encounter a nesting turtle or hatchlings, remain quiet and observe from a distance.
Shield or turn off outdoor lights that are visible on the beach from May through October.
Close drapes after dark and put beach furniture far back from the water.
Fill in holes that may entrap hatchlings on their way to the water.
Do not approach nesting turtles or hatchlings, make noise, or shine lights at turtles
Do not use flashlights or fishing lamps on the beach.
Do not encourage a turtle to move while nesting or pick up hatchlings that have emerged and are heading for the water.
Do not use fireworks on the beach.

On the Water

Follow Coast Guard-approved safe boating guidelines and use vigilance to avoid striking sea turtles and other large marine life.
Be sure to stow trash and line when under way. Marine debris that accidentally blows overboard or out of a truck can become ingested by or entangled around marine life.
Wear polarized sunglasses to better see marine life in your path.

According to Bernhard, the few nests that are laid on the north end of Siesta Key are prone to water damage, because the sand is more densely packed and holds water better. On the south end, it’s a different story.

“They tend to do better as far as water damage, and incubate faster because it’s a hotter sand,” Bernhard said.

Although turtles don’t love Siesta’s award-winning sand, it’s possible they also don’t love the traffic on the Key on holiday weekends.

Beachgoers are asked to take with them anything they bring to the beach — including trash, furniture and other belongings — to decrease the number of instances that turtles come out of the water, but turn around before making a nest.

However, Bernhard said, as Mote has worked with the city and county to educate people about how to help keep turtles comfortable on the beaches, numbers have increased in places such as Lido Beach, but not Siesta Beach.

According to the most recent Mote data, no turtle nests have been located on Siesta Key since the season began May 1. Last year, a total of 636 nests were found on Siesta Key.