After a significant slump last year, sea turtle nesting has rebounded to record levels on beaches from the Carolinas to Florida. The good news can largely be attributed to the combined conservation efforts of researchers and volunteers who have spent the summer cataloging and protecting sea turtle nests, according to the New York Times.
SAVING THE SEA TURTLES
The task is anything but easy: “It’s a lot of physical effort,” stated Wildlife biologist Doug Hoffman. “You’re talking about being in the sun, hauling equipment and digging holes, pounding stakes.”
All the effort, however, has seemingly paid off. This year, a record 2,292 loggerhead nests were counted during the May – August nesting season – and that’s just a preliminary count from Georgia. Based on the promising numbers, scientists are more confident than ever that the sea turtles are making a comeback after 37 years of protection as a federally threatened species under the Endangered Species Act.
“Every big year we get, the more confident we are in that conclusion that we’re in a recovery period,” said Mark Dodd, a biologist.
Although there’s still a month left to go in Florida’s nesting season, according to Fox News, roughly 12,000 nests have already been counted at the Archie Carr National Wildlife Refuge. The number is particularly high, as just three decades ago, in the 1980’s, there were as few as 50 green turtle nests on the very same beaches.
THE FUTURE OF THE SEA TURTLES
Although the good news has reassured biologists and volunteers alike, researchers warn that it may still be too soon to tell if this recovery is for the long term. This is especially true since sea turtles need to live 25 or more years before entering their reproductive periods. Furthermore, female loggerheads may take two or three years off from nesting.
“It’s promising and exciting, but the long term perspective is needed and helps put what we see now in a broader perspective,” stated Kate Mansfield, a sea turtle researcher. “For the past five years we’ve had good years, but we have to look at this over 25-plus years.”
D’aww sea turtles. Let’s save them all and bring nature indoors:
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=vD63kwQuZ2I
Sea Turtles Make A Big Comeback To Beaches
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