St. Lucie County, FL
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Sea turtle nesting season in St. Lucie County runs from March 1 – Nov. 15. St. Lucie County asks residents, businesses, and visitors to help protect sea turtles by adopting sea turtle-friendly practices on our beaches during the upcoming nesting season. St. Lucie County’s 21 miles of beaches are critical nesting habitat for endangered and threatened sea turtle species. If one observes sea turtle nest poaching or harassment of sea turtles on the beach, please call 911 or the Florida Fish and Wildlife hotline at 1-888-404-FWCC.
Sea Turtles Commonly Found on St. Lucie Beaches
Loggerhead
- The Loggerhead turtle, the most common sea turtle species in Florida, can grow up to 3.5 feet long and weigh up to 350 pounds.
- The top shell (carapace) is slightly heart-shaped and reddish-brown in adults and sub-adults, while the bottom shell (plastron) is generally a pale yellowish color.
- They feed on a variety of prey including crabs, clams, and jellyfish.
- Loggerhead turtles are listed as a threatened species under the Endangered Species Act.
Green Turtle
- The Green turtle, the largest hard-shelled sea turtle, can grow up to 3 to 4 feet long and weigh up to 400 pounds.
- They have dark brown, grey, or olive colored shells and a much lighter, yellow-to-white underside.
- They primarily feed on sea grasses and algae, which gives their flesh a greenish tint.
- Green turtles are listed as an endangered species under the Endangered Species Act.
Leatherback
- The Leatherback turtle, the largest of all sea turtle species, can grow up to 6feet long and weigh up to 1,000 pounds.
- The leatherback has a primarily black, rubbery skin with pinkish-white coloring on its underside.
- They feed on jellyfish and other soft-bodied organisms.
- Leatherback turtles are listed as an endangered species under the Endangered Species Act.