Alligator Point Sea Turtle Patrol

09/23/2026

🐢 2026 Sea Turtle Nesting Season Update 🐢
We may have a new loggerhead nesting record in Florida!

🟡 Loggerheads have reached a preliminary 136,972 nests statewide as of August 31, already exceeding the previous annual record of 134,930 nests set in 2023. These numbers are still preliminary and will need to be verified before we can officially call 2026 a new record year, but it’s an exciting milestone!
🟣 Leatherbacks have also had a remarkable season, with 2,209 nests documented so far. If these preliminary numbers are confirmed during final data review, 2026 would also set a new statewide leatherback nesting record.
🟢Green turtles continue to keep things interesting, with 50,815 nests documented statewide. Their nesting numbers can vary widely from year to year, and 2026 is shaping up to be another strong season.
🔵 Kemp’s ridley turtles remain rare visitors to Florida’s beaches, with 15 confirmed nests documented so far this season.
🟠 Florida’s first confirmed olive ridley nest remains one of the most remarkable discoveries of the 2026 season.

🌴 Thank you to all the permit holders, volunteers, interns, and partners working together to document sea turtle nesting activity across the state!

📊 Preliminary statewide totals as of August 31, 2026
• Loggerhead: 136,972 nests
• Green Turtle: 50,815 nests
• Leatherback: 2,209 nests
• Kemp’s Ridley: 15 confirmed nests
• Olive Ridley: 1 confirmed nest
• Hawksbill: 0 nests

📸Photos: FWC

08/29/2026

Exciting things are coming!! 🐢🐬

08/26/2026

Thank you for your artistry, philanthropy, and love for our planet. 💜

08/26/2026

Perfection! 🐢💚

08/23/2026

sea turtle hatchlings use their caruncle to get out of their leathery eggs? A caruncle is a tiny, temporary structure that is located on the tip of their nose. The hatchling uses this small bump to carefully rip open the shell in a process called pipping. This is the only purpose for the caruncle, so it will typically fall off within the first couple weeks of life.

08/21/2026

🐢💚🐢

08/21/2026

WOWZA is right!! 🤯🎉

WOWZA! In case you missed our video, Nest 25 gave us a RECORD HATCH at 150! You read that right…ONE HUNDRED FIFTY!
Congratulations to adopter Naomi aka Turtle Treaures! That’s gonna be tough to beat!!

All work carried out under permit MTP _057

08/16/2026

Oh, Timmy… 🐢🥰🛁

08/11/2026

🐢 2026 Sea Turtle Nesting Season Update 🐢
The 2026 nesting season continues to bring some exciting and unexpected trends across Florida’s beaches!

🟡 Loggerheads have reached 130,091 nests statewide as of July 31st—still ahead of this time in each of the past four years and currently on pace for a possible record season.
🟣 Leatherbacks continue their exceptional year, with 2,203 nests documented so far. If these preliminary numbers are confirmed during final data review, 2026 would become Florida’s new record leatherback nesting season.
🟢Green turtles continue to surprise us! Although 2026 was expected to be a lower nesting year based on their typical high–low nesting pattern, 33,646 nests have already been documented statewide.
🔵 Kemp’s ridley turtles remain rare visitors to Florida’s beaches, with 15 confirmed nests documented so far this season.
🟠 Florida’s first confirmed olive ridley nest remains one of the most remarkable discoveries of the 2026 season.

🌴 Thank you to all the permit holders, volunteers, interns, and partners working together to document sea turtle nesting activity across the state!

📊 Preliminary statewide totals as of July 31, 2026
• Loggerhead: 130,091 nests
• Green Turtle: 33,646 nests
• Leatherback: 2,203 nests
• Kemp’s Ridley: 15 confirmed nests
• Olive Ridley: 1 confirmed nest
• Hawksbill: 0 nests

📸 FWC photos