This Was a Record Year for Sea Turtles, Until Bertha Hit

Tropical Storm Bertha dealt a devastating blow to the sea turtle nesting season across the Gulf Coast of Florida, wiping away what was shaping up to be a record season for the Sunshine State. Here is a look at where the damage to the hatchlings was the greatest and what parts of the Southeast are still seeing a thriving sea turtle season.

Florida Sea Turtle Nests Devastated by Bertha's Wrath

Volunteers in Florida are racing to save the sea turtle hatchlings after the wrath of Tropical Storm Bertha wiped away many of their nests. Up until Bertha's landfall in mid-July, the sea turtles were enjoying a robust nesting season across the beaches of Florida and up into Virginia.

However, the storm surge, coastal flooding, and beach erosion damaged nests along Florida's Gulf Coast. For instance, the Destin-Fort Walton Beach Sea Turtle Patrol said that only four of its 22 nests made it through Bertha's wrath. The group said that "GPS coordinates are taken of each nest along with beach measurements, distance from the nest to the dune and water, so we are hoping we may be able to locate the eggs again and re-mark the nest for evaluation."

Moving farther east, the Alligator Point Sea Turtle Patrol described Bertha's impacts as "brutal," destroying most of the area's sea turtle nests. While the nests can sometimes survive large waves, it is the constant beating from tropical storm flooding that causes the eggs to suffocate and die.

Florida had been ready to record one of its strongest loggerhead nesting seasons ever until Bertha hit. As of June 30, the Florida Fish and Wildlife Conservation Commission had reported more than 94,000 loggerhead nests statewide, putting the season within reach of the state record.

Atlantic Coastline Still Enjoying Healthy Sea Turtle Nests

Fortunately, Bertha's negative impacts were limited to the Gulf Coast. For instance, Sea Turtle Patrol Hilton Head in South Carolina is on pace for a record nesting season. The all-time record of 464 nests was set in 2019. With several weeks of nesting still to come, Hilton Head could break this record this year.

This year's historic nesting season also saw a rare leatherback sea turtle set up her home along the shoreline of Virginia. According to the U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service, the turtle laid eggs at the Naval Air Station Oceana Dam Neck Annex.

What is causing the spike in sea turtle nests? Experts credit the warmer ocean waters for encouraging turtles to arrive on the banks earlier, naturally extending the nesting season and producing more hatchlings. Sea turtles also usually nest in cyclical patterns, being active one season before resting for a few seasons. This year just happens to be the natural nesting season for a greater number of sea turtles.

The silver lining for Florida is that the nesting mothers are returning to its beaches, offering a glimmer of hope that the season can be salvaged.

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