07/30/2026
Best time of year. Be aware!
š¢ 2026 Sea Turtle Nesting Season Update š¢
The 2026 nesting season continues to bring exciting developments across Floridaās beaches!
š Loggerheads are having an outstanding season, with 94,667 nests documented statewide, the highest June total recorded in the past five years and currently on pace for a possible record year.
š£ Leatherbacks continue to impress, with 2,152 nests documented so far. If these preliminary numbers are confirmed, 2026 would become Floridaās new record leatherback nesting season.
šµ Green turtles are proving to be one of the seasonās biggest surprises. Because they often alternate between higher and lower nesting years, 2026 was expected to be a lower year, but 10,603 nests have already been documented statewide.
š¢ Kempās ridley turtles remain rare but exciting visitors to Floridaās beaches, with 15 confirmed nests reported so far this season.
š” Floridaās first confirmed olive ridley nest remains one of the most remarkable discoveries of the 2026 season.
š“ Thank you to all the permit holders, volunteers, interns, and partners working together to document sea turtle nesting activity across the state!
š Preliminary statewide totals as of June 30, 2026
ā¢ Loggerhead: 94,667 nests
ā¢ Green Turtle: 10,603 nests
ā¢ Leatherback: 2,152 nests
ā¢ Kempās Ridley: 15 confirmed nests
ā¢ Olive Ridley: 1 confirmed nest
ā¢ Hawksbill: 0 nests
šø FWC photos
