Impact of Hurricane Matthew on sea turtle nests in Palm Beach County

To: Loggerhead Marinelife Center Media Partners
From: Jack E. Lighton, President & CEO, Loggerhead Marinelife Center

We are happy to report that all of our sea turtle patients are accounted for, safe and healthy. Our center and the Juno Beach Pier will remain closed today but will reopen tomorrow, (Saturday, Oct. 8) and we are grateful to report limited damage to our facilities.

Palm Beach County has some of the most important sea turtle nesting beaches in North America.

Heavy storms and increased wave action, like what we experienced from Hurricane Matthew, are likely to wash out sea turtle nests, exposing eggs on Palm Beach County beaches.

Our Center is getting inundated with phone calls about sea turtle eggs, which were washed out of nests on our local beaches.

If beach goers encounter sea turtle eggs that were washed out, they are encouraged to leave them in place on the beach. Once an egg is washed out of the nest it is not viable.

If beach goers encounter a stranded sea turtle hatchling (baby) they are asked to put it into a bucket/container with damp sand – no water – and bring them to the 24-hour hatchling drop off container at the front entrance of Loggerhead Marinelife Center in Juno Beach, Florida.

If beach goers encounter a stranded sea turtle or cannot transport a hatchling to the sea turtle hospital at Loggerhead Marinelife Center, they can call our 24-hour emergency response number at (561) 603-0211.

More information is available here: https://marinelife.org/seaturtles/rehab/injured/