The beaches along Florida’s east coast are the largest nesting site for Loggerhead Sea Turtles in the western hemisphere. Between March and October, female loggerhead sea turtles – as they have for millions of years – crawl ashore under the cover of darkness to dig nests in the sand and lay their eggs. About 50 days later, the hatchlings emerge and scurry into the ocean.
Because Broward County’s coastline is so developed, marine biologists with Nova University, working under a contract with Broward County’s Environmental Protection Department, will often relocate nests to a safer, more desolate area of the beach. In some cases, the eggs are moved to Hillsboro Beach. In other instances, nests are re-located to nearby areas. With the start of every sea turtle nesting season, Town residents and businesses are asked to take steps to help protect threatened loggerheads.