Biologists removing sea turtle nests from local beaches today

Biologists and sea turtle permit holders will be busy on local beaches today relocating sea turtle nests.
Nests will be dug up on beaches in Franklin, Okaloosa, Walton and Bay counties and relocated to the east coast to ensure the sea turtle hatchlings do not encounter oil from the Deepwater Horizon oil gusher.
Nest excavations have been occurring on Northwest Florida and Alabama Gulf coasts this past month and will continue throughout the summer.
The sea turtle eggs are being moved because officials believe it is far riskier to allow the nests to remain in place where the sea turtle hatchlings would face a certain death.
The plan involves moving sea turtle eggs that are within a week of hatching from the beaches in Northwest Florida to a facility on the central-east coast of Florida.
When the eggs hatch at this facility, the hatchlings are released on a nearby beach.
About 700 sea turtle nests are dug in Northwest Florida each year, and each nest typically contains between 100-120 eggs.
Many of the nests will be moved by late July, but the process could continue until October, depending on when nests are made.


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