Florida Sees Record Sea Turtle Nesting Start

Why this is here: Loggerhead sea turtle nests currently total 1,450, an increase of about 82% compared to this time in 2025.

The Florida Fish and Wildlife Conservation Institute reports a record start to the 2026 sea turtle nesting season in Florida. Loggerhead and leatherback turtles are currently exceeding their previous record numbers just two months into the season. As of May 13, officials counted 1,450 loggerhead nests, roughly 82% more than the same period last year.

There were also 1,008 leatherback nests, a 4% increase from May 2025, and three Kemp’s ridley nests, an improvement for this endangered species. Biologists, interns, volunteers, and permit holders collected and reported this data. Green turtle nests typically appear later in the summer, around the end of May or early June.

Last year, Florida experienced the second-highest green turtle nesting season on record with 66,476 nests. However, 2024 saw potential record numbers disrupted by hurricanes that washed away many nests. The FWC continues to monitor nesting throughout the season and expects several species to potentially break records.