Florida Panhandle Sea Turtles

Did you know that three of the five species of sea turtles found in the Gulf of Mexico nest on Pensacola Beach? In fact, 90% of sea turtle nesting in the United States happens in the Sunshine State! Between 40,000 and 84,000 nests are dug on Florida beaches by these amazing ocean reptiles every year. Pensacola Beach is especially prolific in loggerhead nesting, although green turtles and Kemp’s ridley turtles also nest in the area. The nesting process lasts from March to October; help keep turtles safe by watching where you step, avoiding nests that are marked off, cleaning up after yourself when you visit the beach, and keeping lights off the beach after dark to keep from confusing hatchlings trying to make it away from land to the sea.