Sea Turtle Monitoring

Second Chance, a green sea turtle, was rescued by volunteers after the dune collapsed on her.

NPS/Photo Griffiths MTP 23-005

2024 Sea Turtle Nest Counts

• Loggerhead (Caretta caretta):
Apollo ( 2300 ) ......... Playalinda ( 2980 )

• Green (Chelonia mydas):
Apollo ( 461 ) .......... Playalinda ( 530 )

• Leatherback (Dermochelys coriacea)
Apollo ( 11 ) .......... Playalinda ( 19 )

• Kemps Ridley (Lepidochelys kempii)
Apollo ( 0 ) .......... Playalinda ( 2 )

Total Sea Turtle Nest Count: 06303

 
Green sea turtle nesting
This green sea turtle is digging her nest.

NPS/Photo Welch MTP 19-005

Five of the Canaveral's federally listed endangered or threatened species are marine turtles.

  1. Loggerhead (Caretta caretta) Threatened
  2. Green (Chelonia mydas) Threatened
  3. Leatherback (Dermochelys coriacea) Endangered
  4. Kemp’s Ridley (Lepiochelys kempii) Endangered
  5. Hawksbill (Eretmochelys imbricata) Endangered


The Loggerhead and Green turtles are most prevalent, while the Leatherback is found consistently, but in much lower numbers. Kemp’s Ridley and Hawsbill Turtles have been documented, though rarely, on Canaveral National Seashore's beaches.

Canaveral National Seashore has been recording sea turtle nesting on park beaches since 1985. Sea turtles are observed nesting in the park from April through October. The nesting season for the Leatherback is generally between April and June, the earliest and shortest nesting season. Loggerheads are primarily observed nesting in the park from May through August, while Greens are recorded slightly later, from June through September. As in the past three years, Green sea turtle nesting extended into October in 2013. The peak of the nesting season generally occurs between late June and early July when over 100 nests may be deposited on Canaveral National Seashore’s beaches each night.

 

Sea Turtle Nest Totals 1984 - 2022


Year Loggerhead Green Leatherback Kemp's Unknown Total
2022 6,188 6,331 27 1 0 12,547
2021 3,708 4,303 31 2 0 8,044
2020 4,187 367 26 5 0 7,888
2019 5,646 7,629 33 0 0 13,308
2018 4,223 301 15 0 0 4,539
2017 4,556 7,736 23 0 0 12,315
2016 5,057 381 9 0 0 5,437
2015 3,905 3,571 34 0 0 7,510
2014 3,322 420 20 0 0 3,767
2013 3,758 4,152 23 0 0 5,140
2012 5,154 816 27 1 0 5,998
2011 3,742 1,374 24 0 0 5,140
2010 4,250 1,343 26 0 0 5,619
2009 2,729 301 26 0 0 3,056
2008 3,637 899 5 2 0 4,543
2007 2,356 1,249 21 0 0 3,627
2006 2,470 396 1 1 0 2,868
2005 2,547 1,040 13 0 0 3,600
2004 2,281 255 6 0 0 2,542
2003 3,229 74 16 1 0 3,320
2002 3,161 856 8 0 0 4,025
2001 3,257 7 10 0 0 3,274
2000 3,892 662 9 0 0 4,563
1999 4,501 5 9 0 0 4,515
1998 3,976 427 5 0 0 4,408
1997 2,702 21 4 0 0 2,727
1996 3,260 222 3 0 0 3,485
1995 4,121 47 1 0 0 4,169
1994 3,886 364 2 0 0 4,252
1993 3,140 28 0 0 0 3,168
1992 3,279 298 0 0 0 3,577
1991 4,074 25 1 0 0 4,100
1990 3,922 185 1 0 0 4,108
1989 3,091 41 1 0 0 3,133
1988 2,203 43 0 0 4 2,250
1987 1,670 90 1 0 15 1,776
1986 3,349 22 3 0 0 3,374
1985 2,389 94 0 0 25 2,508
1984 * * * * * 2,125

* Individual breakdown not available

Taken from yearly Sea Turtle Nesting Summaries, 1984-2022 Canaveral National Seashore, Titusville, Florida



The State of Florida manages sea turtle nests throughout the state by collecting annual data on participating beaches. Canaveral National Seashore participates in both an Index Nesting Beach Survey (INBS) and the Statewide Nesting Beach Survey (SNBS). For more information on these programs visit the Florida Fish and Wildlife Conservation Commission.

 
The requested video is no longer available.

Last updated: August 3, 2024

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Mailing Address:

Canaveral National Seashore, Headquarters
212 S. Washington Ave.

Titusville, FL 32796

Phone:

386 428-3384
Apollo Visitor Center

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