Researchers at Loggerhead Marinelife Center (LMC) in Juno Beach are keeping a watchful eye for the return of sea turtles this nesting season in Palm Beach County.
Between March 1 and October 31, sea turtles nest on the 9.5-mile stretch of beach that LMC monitors, which spans from the northern Palm Beach County line to the northern boundary of John D. MacArthur Beach State Park. Last year, the Center documented 16,935 sea turtle nests totaling 286 leatherback, 13,059 loggerhead, and 3,590 green sea turtle nests. Additionally, it’s estimated that 800,000 hatchlings were produced from the 2020 nesting season alone.
And the best part? You can take part in a guided turtle walk and observe the nesting, and egg-laying process!
With the approval of State issued permits, experienced Loggerhead Marinelife Center scouts patrol the designated section of Juno Beach searching for sea turtles while visitors enjoy an informative presentation on the plight of sea turtles and an after-hours experience to view the current patients in our outdoor Sea Turtle Hospital. Once a loggerhead sea turtle is found and begins her egg-laying process, the group is then led down to the beach to witness this unforgettable experience.
Cost: $22/non-members; $20 members
Ages: 10+
Time: June & July, Tuesdays - Saturdays at 9 p.m.
The Loggerhead MarineLife Center is a great place to visit, whether you go for a turtle walk or stop in to look at the exhibits. You can also get up close and personal with the sea turtles as they rehab at the facility in Juno Beach. Here are some interesting FAQs about the LMC and sea turtles:
How many types of sea turtle are there in the world?
There are seven species of sea turtles in the world! The species are as follows: leatherback, green, loggerhead, hawksbill, Kemp's ridley, olive ridley, and Australian flatback. Follow this link to learn more about each species!
Why do the sea turtles have to be separated in their tanks?
At our facility, the sea turtles are medical patients and each patient requires different care regimens and treatments, so it is best to keep them separated - similar to how patients in a human hospital may share a room but have separate hospital beds. In addition, sea turtles in the wild are considered to be solitary rather than social animals, therefore we provide them their own space while they are in our care.
How often do sea turtles need to breathe?
With sea turtles, the frequency of breathing can depend on size, medical condition, and activity level - for example, the larger turtles can typically spend more time underwater than the smaller ones, and a turtle that is more highly active will need to breathe more frequently.
How many sea turtle hatchlings reach adulthood?
It is hard to know for sure, but researchers estimate that approximately 1 in 1,000 to 1 in 10,000 eggs produce hatchlings that reach adulthood.
How old do sea turtles get?
The age of a sea turtle is an estimate based on the size of an animal, and it can vary between species. Researchers estimate that sea turtles can live to be over 80-100 years old!
Why do we have to turn off lights along the beach for the sea turtles?
Artificial lighting disrupts the nesting process of female sea turtles, and is one of the biggest threats for emerging hatchlings. Both hatchlings and nesting sea turtles rely on natural lighting such as moonlight to navigate their surroundings and find their way to the ocean, and artificial lighting can result in the turtles becoming disoriented.
We invite you to meet some of our most beloved residents- sea turtles! Check out this blog regularly for more information on events and things to do. For more information on the finest homes in the Palm Beaches, contact a Tauber Real Estate Services Specialist at 561-626-4633.