In Florida, sea turtle nesting season typically runs from March 1 through October 31. On May 13, despite only being just two months into the season, the FWC Fish and Wildlife Research Institute had an exciting update to share.
“The 2026 sea turtle nesting season is officially off and with a strong start!” the FWC wrote in a Facebook post. “Loggerheads and leatherbacks are both currently outpacing their recent record-breaking years.”
In the post, the FWC reported 1,008 leatherback nests — up by 4% compared to May 2025. There were also three Kemp’s ridley nests, up by two from this time last year, marking a huge improvement for the world’s smallest and most endangered sea turtle.
But it was the number of loggerhead sea turtle nests that was truly remarkable. The 2026 count was already at 1,450 — roughly 82% better than it was this time last year.
“A huge thank you to the biologists, interns, volunteers, and permit holders who worked tirelessly to collect and report this data,” the FWC wrote. “Your dedication drives sea turtle conservation forward!”
When one local expressed concern over the lack of green sea turtle nests, the FWC was quick to reassure them.
“Green turtles nest later in the summer, so we expect to start seeing green turtle nests around the end of May or beginning of June,” the organization explained.
In 2025, green sea turtles had a standout year with 66,476 nests, making 2025 the second-highest season on record. Leatherbacks set a new statewide record with 2,012 nests, breaking the previous high of 1,848 in 2022. And loggerheads remained “the dominant nester” with 100,951 nests, which the FWC called “a strong showing across the state.”
In 2024, scientists expected Florida to break nesting records, but Hurricanes Debby, Helene, and Milton caused severe flooding and washed away many sea turtle nests across the state.
Beaches were dramatically reshaped, destroying dunes and nesting habitats for loggerhead, green, and leatherback turtles.
Despite the damage, wildlife experts continued conservation and restoration efforts throughout the following year.
As for 2026, there is still a long way to go for the nesting season. But the FWC is expecting several sea turtle species to continue breaking records.
They wrote: “We can’t wait to see how the rest of the season unfolds!”
Header image via the National Park Service
