Turtle Tracks
Fast Facts Sea Turtle Population
» Each of the four species of sea turtle that nest on St. Johns County beaches leaves distinctly unique tracks, based on width and flipper pattern.
» Approximately 100 trained volunteers (called the "Turtle Patrol") dedicatedly observe St. Johns County's 41 miles of beaches during sea turtle nesting season to document the locations of sea turtle nests.
» At the end of the nesting season, the observations of these dedicated volunteers are reported to the United States Fish & Wildlife Service.
Please report any marine animals in distress to the Sheriff's Dispatch 904.824.8304.
Nesting Activity as of October 30, 2020
| North Beaches | ||||
| Loggerheads: 600 | Greens: 39 | Kemp's Ridley: 1 | Leatherbacks: 16 | Total: 656 |
| Anastasia Island | ||||
| Loggerheads: 146 | Greens: 9 | Kemp's Ridley: 0 | Leatherbacks: 4 | Total: 159 |
| Matanzas Inlet South | ||||
| Loggerheads: 38 | Greens: 0 | Kemp's Ridley: 0 | Leatherbacks: 0 | Total: 38 |
| Total: 853 | ||||
Reported Nests Evaluated: 680 | Hatchlings Reported Emerged: 56,533
Remember: Leave only your footprints in the sand.
