Sea turtles hatch on Tyndall beaches

Published Aug. 19, 2016
By Airman 1st Class Cody R. Miller
325th Fighter Wing Public Affairs

TYNDALL AIR FORCE BASE, Fla. -- Turtle hatching season is in full swing, and environmental specialists from the 325th Civil Engineer Squadron have begun to search sea turtle nests on Tyndall beaches for emerging baby turtles.

Biologists comb the beaches of Tyndall to find signs of sea turtle hatchlings beginning their dangerous journey to the ocean. This activity is held every year from May to August with a peak season in June and July. They do this to ensure that all sea turtle species have the best chance of producing a successful nest.

Even when a nest produces a successful litter of turtles, sometimes unforeseeable events can cause a nest to be wiped out.

“The turtles face a lot of hardships,” said Danielle Bumgardner, 325th Civil Engineer Squadron natural resources specialist. “A lot of the excavations we’ve had the past few days have been pretty depressing. Most of the babies that hatched drowned in their nest from the heavy rains.”

Sea turtles usually nest on the gulf-side beaches of Tyndall close to the first dune. The turtles typically choose nesting sites where the sand has just the right amount of moisture with not too many shells, vegetation or debris.

Even when the perfect spot is chosen, things like heavy rains can flood the nest and drown all the turtles.

This makes the necessity for environmental permits and regulations even greater, since it can educate visitors on Tyndall’s beaches to avoid hurting the already threatened turtle population.

“It’s good that we have the permit process,” Bumgardner said. “Once you register you can get information on the rules and regulations on how to protect many of the endangered species on the coast. There are 57 species that call Tyndall beaches their home and they can all be seriously threatened if a person is not educated properly.”

According to records, Tyndall had 94 sea turtle nests on the beach in 2015. This included 81 loggerhead and 13 green turtle nests. The nests have about a 58-percent hatch rate, which is often due to a mixture of factors, like predators and the location of the nest.

Onshore threats to eggs and hatchlings include ghost crabs, coyotes, raccoons, opossums, dogs, feral cats, seagulls, wading birds, crows, eagles, poachers and light pollution. Even the sea oats that grow in the dunes can pose a threat to the nests. The roots will begin to grow into the eggs as they naturally seek nutrients, Bumgardner said.

Because of the threats these new hatchlings face, limited access is often necessary around the turtle nests. Though they may mean well, beachgoers can unintentionally cause numerous problems for the baby turtles.

Tyndall requires beach access permits as a way to educate beachgoers on the impact they have on the fragile ecosystem.

According to the Florida Fish and Wildlife Conservation Commission’s website, you can help the survival of baby turtles by taking an active role in maintaining your beach. Some ways you can do this is to organize or join a beach clean-up day. Check with organizations or schools in your area to become involved in clearing the beaches of trash that could be harmful to wildlife.

Also, don’t leave fishing lines behind. This entangles many types of wildlife, including sea turtles. Do not feed sea turtles or other wildlife, since this encourages them to approach people in high traffic areas.
Never buy products made from sea turtles and reduce the amount of plastic garbage you produce.

To learn more about Tyndall’s environmental preservation efforts, or to obtain a Tyndall AFB recreational permit, visit https://tyndall.isportsman.net/ or call 850-283-2641.