Loggerhead nesting up on Florida beaches

Loggerhead sea turtle nesting was near a 24-year high along Florida beaches this year, according to data compiled by Florida Fish and Wildlife Conservation Commission.

The loggerhead is listed federally as a threatened species.

Trained surveyors from partners across the state count nests on nearly 250 miles of beaches as part of the Index Beach Nesting Survey.

In 2012, index beach surveyors counted 58,172 loggerhead nests, one of the highest counts since monitoring began in 1989.

Nesting on these beaches peaked at nearly 60 thousand nests in 1998, and hit a low of just over 28 thousand in 2007.

In the U.S., 90 percent of all loggerhead nesting occurs in Florida, the majority of which takes place along the state’s east coast.

The loggerhead is the most common sea turtle species to nest in Florida.

Green turtles and leatherbacks also nest on Florida beaches, primarily on the east coast, and their nesting numbers have been increasing over time.

This year, surveyors found just over six thousand green turtle nests, down a little from last year.

Surveyors counted 515 leatherback nests.

Only 45 leatherback nests were counted on the same beaches in 1989.

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