Mote Marine Laboratory & Aquarium volunteers found the first sea turtle nest of the season on Monday morning, a loggerhead, the region’s most abundant nester.

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Sea turtle nesting season started in May. So far this year, Mote Marine Lab has documented more than 2,100 nests along 35 miles of the Suncoast – and 320 of those nests are on Siesta Key.

So far this year, Mote has documented 268 sea turtle nests on Siesta Key. In the event that a member of the public sees damage happening to a sea turtle nest, call FWC at 888-404-3922.

On the west coast of Florida, Sarasota County is the most dense area of loggerhead nesting. Green sea turtles nest on area beaches, as well. The first sea turtle nest of the 2020 season on Siesta Key.